ASOIAF Theories: The Grand Game | Understanding the Birth of Dragons II

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Just sharing my ideas one of my favorite book series, A Song of Ice and Fire by George RR Martin. This video may contain spoilers for those of you who are not up to date with the series. That goes for the HBO show and the books.
I'm just speculating and guessing on some ideas that I have on how future events will transpire in the series. Keep in mind however, I know nothing.
Feel free to leave a comment like and subscribe!
Credits:
Daenerys Targaryen Speedpainting by Prof
Vaes Tolorro, the city of bones. © FFG
Pyat Pree, a blue-lipped warlock. © FFG
Pyat Pree - GoT by yoshiyaki
Quaithe by Curtana
GoT Fan Art Challenge by Archylol
Daenerys Targaryen by Englehart
Daenerys Targaryen by tenkkay
Dothraki sea by ~rai-mond
“The Mad King” by Zgfisher
Ignosi by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Faceoff by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Thanks For Watching!

[@calikesh6475]

None of your videos are Ice... all of them are straight Fire 🔥🔥🔥

[@lbentosoares4]

Neither...His videos are both, only not competing, but cooperating!

[@lbentosoares4]

Neither...His videos are both, only not competing, but cooperating!

[@justatiefling9528]

Your videos are not only very smart and informative but also super suspenseful, spooky even! I could listen to your voice for days, you really know how to tell stories (Especially your retelling of Old Nan's story, it was beautifully creepy). Amazing, I absolutely love your stuff and I can't wait for more.

[@dustins7123]

Confirmed.

[@ash1rose]

I hope you do audiobooks one day. Or record more here. You have the best voice for fantasy, mystery, and horror I've ever heard.

[@Binks129]

The Queen of Sevens He should learn to read first.

[@glanni]

His voice is amazing. The drama, the momentum, the melody. I had to listen to the reading parts multiple times because they were so haunting

[@alyssinclair8598]

I like how he gives quathe an accent

[@andrewcameron4277]

Quin for winds of winter

[@subutaynoyan5372]

Kraken is obviously Victarion, Dark Flame is Marwin, Lion is Tyrion, Griffin is Connington, Sun's Son is Quentyn Martell and Mummer's Dragon is young griff. This actually heralds that so-called Aegon Targaryen is a pretender.

[@zakariaali8864]

The perfumed seneschal is Varys

[@Tpespisa]

@@zakariaali8864 Exactly. So for whom is the prophecy pitching?!

[@ZakMason10]

Dark flame is surely Moqorro?

[@TheHatCollection]

It's too obvious for GRRM. I think Aegon may be legit - if not Rhaegar's son, then perhaps a bastard.

[@emyyyuu]

young griff being a blackfyre is ridiculous. aegon being alive was the most popular theory before 2011 😂😂😂 i'd call the mummer's dragon jon snow actually... he's not a targaryen, he's a stark. his father isn't rhaegar, it's ned (metaphorically), jon will always be a fake dragon because he's a wolf. the sun's son can also allude to young griff, he is elia martell's son after all.

[@davef4755]

quaithe is such an interesting character :)

[@zm4522]

Dave F The mask indicates that we know the character

[@Chris_Stanley007]

@@zm4522 I hope we find out on the show who she is.

[@Tpespisa]

@@Chris_Stanley007 It seems as if she was another dead end. GRRM probably didn't tell D&D anything about her.

[@alexgroot2508]

I'd like to add to this theory: "He lifted his eyes and saw clear across the narrow sea, to the Free Cities and the green Dothraki sea and beyond, to Vaes Dothrak under its mountain, to the fabled lands of the Jade Sea, to Asshai by the Shadow, where dragons stirred beneath the sunrise." Seeing as the rest of this vision seems to be more or less vision through space, not time, we can infer that Bran viewing dragons stirring beneath the sunrise in Asshai by the shadow is happening as he sees it. I don't think the Ice side of the fight had that much of a head start, the dragons are there, just not where they need to be. Perhaps this is what Asshai has been trying to do since Valyria: get people to master dragons so they can be moved Westward, so they might not just face down the threats of the Grey Waste (presuming that it parallels the lands of always winter), but also fight the ice beyond the wall. However there's no reason to assume dragons would fight this battle unless tamed, hence Asshai's attempts to spread the art and move dragons to the west. Dragon's are powerful pieces, probably more so than individual white walkers, but the pieces are dificult to move and right now, not at the place where they are needed. Thoughts?

[@armandogutierrez473]

During that vision Bran sees Ser Robert Strong, so we can assume he's seeing through time as well; it probably means that Dany will indeed travel to Asshai.

[@parikshitrao4208]

It's actually kinda indicated that Egg was fed up with the nobility trying to block any kind of reform that he implimented. His obssion with dragon's was basically him trying to deus ex machina the seven kingdom's.

[@Macconator2010]

So maybe Aerys trying to burn King's Landing was a mass blood sacrifice attempt to hatch a dragon. Dragon eggs in King's Landing confirmed?

[@wafflingmean4477]

Maybe in a similar sense to how people believe Rhaego's life was switched with one of the dragons, Aerys was going to switch his own? Perhaps dragon eggs would have hatched and one of them would have been the very soul of Aerys?

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

Well, they did keep dragons in breeding pits and not all of the eggs hatched, so I wouldn't be surprised to learn that they have a vault filled with them somewhere below the city...

[@arawn1061]

Well aerys wanted to be a dragon

[@The-bi5ry]

Now I’m thinking how awesome it would be if the last book consists of Cersei burning kings landing with wildfire, sacrificing the people and as the city engulfs in flames, thousands of baby dragons bursts out into the sky.

[@aegonii8471]

@@The-bi5ry Nah that would undermine the significance of Danny’s dragons.

[@Threeleaves_artwork]

You made me want to read the books

[@zakariaali8864]

Believe me, you should

[@dcox5555]

You sir, are the best narrator and GOT Theologian on the planet! I would love to read some original works of yours! I know you have written something! You are far too skilled in breaking down Mythos, to have not. Bravo sir simply fantastic Analysis!

[@megren1207]

I don’t know why but I always think Quaithe is genuinely trying to protect and guide Daenerys. Red Priests give off a stronger evil vibe.

[@glanni]

3:55 this part gives me the chills so hard omg! 2:36 is great too! I love the momentum in your voice

[@kawh8719]

wow, the ever clash of ice and fire, struggling against each-other, maintaining balance. That's the story right there. The story that most don't see but is plain as day. Helps put the whole series in a different light! Along w/ lessons for each of us in life.

[@mark-angelofamularcano237]

Why isn't Asshai more fleshed out in tv? It just makes GoT a political/historical fiction with a medieval skin plus dragons and zombies. It's mystique on TV is fading, quickly.

[@huseyinusta9330]

bc they focus on the jon x deanerys romance thing, so ppl who still call deanerys khalessi and ppl who call jon daddy, are satisfied.

[@lbentosoares4]

Man, Im pretty sure Dany and Jon will "end up" together in the books, only not in the way the series is portraying it... They roles are meant to to cross either as enemies of allies...The true balance is not fire or ice (ying or yang) winning, but both cooperating and accepting eachother's roles within the world...

[@64chrom]

simple answer not enough screentime

[@post-leftluddite]

because it's not really focused on in the books either, and even GRRM said that there will NOT be a POV character/chapter ever taking place in Asshai

[@cyanide_lollipop3264]

It's called "budget". There's only so much they could cram into the TV show, given the massive depth and detail in the book series.

[@tomeboaventura9054]

I remember your early videos. You've improved a lot. Keep going at it, your style is unique.

[@shanabaker6197]

Lacquer is pronounced lacker.

[@mysticnovelbro]

I resisted that urge with every fibre of my being lol

[@Irish0wl]

Not, everywhere.

[@Ash-cb2li]

Shana Baker I just looked it up and you’re right but I’ve never heard any one say it like that. I live in England and people say something along the lines of le-cure

[@Kevin-cm5kc]

Jesus is that what he was going for? I kept wondering why Quaithe had booze smeared all over her mask

[@mariesia3449]

Exactly, sounds like he's saying it like the word liqueur. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it. 😂

[@kristymckinney7564]

Love this video! It may be my favorite ASOIAF explanation to date; very philosophical/poststructural. Well done.

[@fvriovs5502]

You take an interesting topic like ASoIaF and make it so much more intriguing with your theories and explanations.

[@zacharyvickers1997]

Once again, incredible video. You are the man! Love how you concluded with the thought on balance. Spot on.

[@no-one3181]

I never comment on anyone's videos, but I must say, you produce the most informative and best quality stuff. My only problem is that you don't make enough or make them fast enough. Your voice is so relaxing, that I watch them all the time......but I need more. I also love your Stephen King stuff and wondered if you would consider doing a few on the Dark Tower series of books (as the film is coming out soon and there aren't any good reviews on youtube about them)? Keep up the good work Quinn and take care.

[@carriezen8499]

Excellent video!! Best I've seen on Asshai by the Shadow and Quaithe!! I'm really hoping for new to series to be either Dawn Age - Long Night or Asshai, Shadow lands and vorigin of dragons.

[@TammyNewmanArt]

Yay your back! Missed your videos

[@Gekokujo76]

Consistently great, IOIAF! Quaithe knows as much as anybody about what is going on....I have to imagine every bit as much as Marwin, Bloodraven, or Howland Reed. I know why she is used so sparingly, but that is precisely what makes her such a great character and worthy of speculation.

[@joshuaredfearn6537]

I rarely comment either but this video really impressed me- great contextualization- great reading/voice. Thanks so much!

[@SSJ4Oman]

Love your channel my guy. You and lml are killing it

[@donesitackacom]

speechless, you are amazing, you gave me goosebumps multiple times

[@christopherbarber5283]

This has got to be your best video my friend. Well done.

[@gardengirlnc]

Fantastic as always! I am glad you are back.

[@StefanNemanja1985]

your getting big time bro! keep up the good work! we're rootin for you

[@21stcenturyafropolitan]

Welcome back my man. Always refreshing your page to see if there is a new video. Great episode by the way. More please...

[@Espinozaize]

I honestly feel- Talking about the intent of the books here- not the show. That this tale is Loftcraftian in more ways than one. In Lovecrafts books it is almost always the case that some gifted individual like in say: At the Mountains of Madness, learns some ancient truth about a creature &/or culture existing millions of years ago. In this case the elder things that used to live on Antarctica before the tectonic plates shifted it to the bottom of the planet. They had starfish heads, wings, gills, six pairs of tentacle like limbs & tails like fish. Thus they could move equally well on earth, in the sea & in the air. Point being in relation to this video. As Dr. William Dyer learns more & more about these creatures via first their fossilised corpses & then he discovers their gigant cities built in the mountains of Antarctica...Now seemingly lifeless & covered in ice. All through this story it is hinted that Dyer will learn some great truth from this that will help humanity to overcome a similar fate & improve themselves. What he finds at the bottom of the ruined imperial cities is the Shoggoth. The amoebic slave race of the Elder things. That rebelled & destroyed them. Wingless, limbless & just directed by a collective mind fuled by hate towards the elder things that had comitted so much cruelty towards them. Yet as is the case in all Loftcraftian lore...The final realisation of Dyer is that these creatures, much like humanity, were mere puppets of forces darker, more cruel & chaotic than the human mind can comprehend. That in the end this is not a tale of good Vs. Evil...This is a story of the foolish arrogance of man to think that he matters at all or that he can have any impact on anything. Both the lords of Ice & of Fire may come to this realisation when they go by the shadow to Asshai 4:55 "Her mask is made of starlight" & we all know what happens when the stars come right"

[@Creationsofmyown]

How do you know you aren't leading the story to Lovecraftian themes?

[@m1964e]

I have to agree. Awesome reading voice. Great video as well! That is an Epic combination.

[@ahobbitstail7022]

Lacquer LAK - CURR Otherwise, you're great! I hope you can do audiobooks at some point, I'd buy them.

[@talebtb2461]

I think Quaithe is Shiera Seastar. Too many simularities: relation with stars, purple eyes, Shiera lived during the Blackfyre Rebellions which is before The Tragedy of Summerhall and Aery's time so she might have influenced Aegon V and Aerys II. Plus it would be cool if Shiera and Bloodraven are respectively the servants of Ice and Fire making them rivals, considering they were lovers .

[@Deneris]

Shiera didn't have purple eyes though. She had heterochromia - one blue and one green eye.

[@robswitzer8334]

Ok Green Hand

[@coqui9879]

taleb tb that’s far from too many lol. That’s 2. And ppl have proved one of them (eye color) false, so all your theory is based on is that they both have been related to stars and you want it to be true. Not exactly concrete.

[@dutchvanderlinde5004]

I enjoy listening to your videos as I play the ck2 Game of thrones mod; when you describe the events and mechanics of this incredible world it makes me see how the reign of Kings is so inconsequential to the world in the grand scheme of things as far as magic is concerned.

[@jamesw823]

This video, visually, is edited so beautifully!

[@amandaviola_]

beautifully done as always

[@markwalton]

Complex storyline made comprehensible, thank you. You have shown me new wrinkles to mull over.

[@Homar30]

Impresiv work. Well done Ser!

[@robp4074]

Fell asleep listening to your calm soothing tone, liked anyway, will finish watching later

[@anarchist_parable]

God, Dan & Dave violated this story in such a huge way.

[@inthedriversseat928]

I love your videos! Your dramatic tone and the music is just perfect. I wonder if Georgey boy is trying to suggest to us that although "ice" and "fire" are the two classical elements we predominantly see, "air" and "earth" are also in play. The "spirits of the air" and the earth itself having the ability to be moved/changed would explain a lot. The whole breaking of the arm of Dorne story is easily explained, as is the mystery of how young Ned brought down the ToJ on their own, how Greywater Watch is able to move around. I'm sure there are far more examples, but I feel like this could be something...

[@inthedriversseat928]

Just thought: I think we actually know there are areomancers and pyromancers in Asshai, so why not aquamancers (surely at least) and terramancers (I think it's a thing)? Shadowbinders to me seem like they use a combination of aeromancy and possibly terramancy, i.e. causing shadows to appear on walls for example.

[@adibsapida]

Great video and excellent narration.

[@juleselizabeth]

Excellent! I love your videos! 👍🏻

[@karenjuhlke5821]

Love your videos!

[@post-leftluddite]

Too bad GRRM has already said that we will not have a POV Chapter/Character in Asshai in the book series....which raises a question that comes to mind with many of IdeasofIceandFire's videos....he proposes so many theories that will NEVER even have a chance to be proven right or wrong, which makes me wonder why he postulates on them so much...don't get me wrong, I've wondered about Asshai, about the Five Forts, but, GRRM has said in an interview that his world, Planetos, is like an iceberg when compared to Tolkien's in that GRRM's hints at a lot of in depth history and established fact, but in reality, it's an illusion, and really (like an iceberg) the reader only sees 10% above the surface...I just think a lot of people are looking way, way too deeply at things outside the main story and the reality is that GRRM isn't even thinking about the content that so many of these youtube theories are based on.

[@malafakka8530]

That's the impression that I also got, but at least some theories are intriguing and interesting to hear. However, I only read them in small doses because the more I read them (or in this case watch) the more I think that people are theorizing too much about things that might never get an answer.

[@TheMrKelloggs]

he said we won't have characters physcially going there. this doesn't rule out mellisandre flashbacks or bran traveling to asshai with bloodraven, or glass candles.

[@angelsindolly]

I just found your channel but I'm loving your videos! So well rounded and articulate. I would like to say,some of the volume difference between when your narrating and when your quoting the books,some times the transitions are a bit harsh on the ear. Otherwise I'm loving your work!

[@knowfuturejay22]

You're the best on KZbin. You speak like you're reading off a page.

[@askani21]

Duuuuude I love your videos so much.

[@lwilliams7448]

Incredible as usual.

[@lucylestat9698]

Awesome vid! I've been thinking about this subject and to me the one common currency of power in Planetos is blood. It seems to me that if there is a grand game as you put it, these two entities compete for blood or life force of the inhabitants of this world. We know that the people who die in front of weirwood trees get absorbed by them (by the great other?) and people who are burnt get absorbed by Rhllorr. White Walkers and Dragons may be just a super unit for collecting mass sacrifices and therefore power.

[@polyemphis]

Thanks for the great vid.

[@chewyskywalker6166]

Well thought-out

[@blkjem21]

Goddamn, that was moving. Your voice is so mesmerizing and tranquil. Keep the video's coming.

[@Creationsofmyown]

It's a shame he uses it to bury the sorts of leaps in logic that have me questioning my subscription.

[@blkjem21]

Lol... I don't agree with all his theories, but you have to admit he puts alot of work into it.

[@t1f2b30]

Nice work!

[@punch6515]

I always told myself that the targeryans were not born mad But grew mad because of something This explains it,hope this dialectical theory of opposing forces comes true

[@plantemor]

I wish you would narrate all the books. Your acting is so good.

[@jjvoity7797]

Good job. When you're on your game you're as good a GOT vlogger as there is.

[@cherzi657]

Dude...the narration was on point!!!

[@darklywhite9017]

You should narrate all the books your work is just too good.

[@i2amasecrettarg737]

Thrilled to see this! Always top-notch 👍

[@raylast3873]

But if she wanted to help Daenerys, she could make herself a lot clearer and thus be more helpful...

[@zm4522]

Ray Last Maybe she is a time traveler and can’t say thing vividly

[@maritasue5067]

In fantasy worlds it’s always against magical laws for prophetic people to speak in plain words. She’d probably burst into flames or freeze into an ice pillar if she did. Not her fault 😉

[@jtamiing559]

id be less interesting

[@Yashi1134]

She does a raw reading, unlike Melisandre who interprets things herself and can be mistaken. By saying things as she sees them, Quaithe leaves it to Dany to interpret

[@raylast3873]

themiserableones yeah, but, this doesn‘t really help anyone much, since it‘s almost impossible to reliably interpret.

[@TheAliRatedr]

Best voice of telling theories dark in origin. Fantasy or reality. There's something good about your voice that I cannot fathom. Theories are well constructed. You know what you do. 🤩

[@AankerStoneshield]

Great video, but haha, lost it when the Kerbal Space Program space theme came on :P

[@samothemano]

You should totally be the voice on the audio books. You’re awesome!

[@mariesia3449]

He's good at narration but must work on better accents first.

[@robertadopt_dont_shop7876]

You are very smart, I really like your videos.

[@nickkoch3467]

All your videos are great and original! Unlike other GOT tubers....

[@ramonalejandrosuare]

Terrific video.

[@luciarosselini6199]

I love your voice it's so enchanting

[@6noelita]

Awsome (as usual)! Keep making stuff up!

[@oldreddragon1579]

Question is, was Quaithe in Qarth accidentally at the right time or on purpose fam?

[@toneymontgomery2964]

Awesome bud!

[@briantully28]

I love how you say shadow

[@watchouttheangel]

OMG you are absolutely right. Even if it wasn't in GRRM ' mind, which I find difficult not to be. Many thanks!

[@user-L13]

superb bro...really good video...but very creepy also....quathe is really mysterious,but she has violet eyes,does that mean she might be a targaryean secretly.

[@CJusticeHappen21]

There are three champions. One of Fire (Dany) One of Ice (Bran) One of Ice and Fire (Jon) And that is the game. But just because only two teams are playing doesn't mean that there are not others. Euron comes, like a streaker on the pitch.

[@eric2500]

Aerys wanted to become a dragon, a bit like Euron trying to become a new god, which he likely thinks of a Kraken like. Ice and Fire cancel, with any luck, and Earth and Balance talk over and rule for several centuries - *that is, if Bran both learns enough from Bloodraven but also breaks free of him soon enough to retain at least some of his humanity.*

[@nmd1120]

Meanwhile the show forgot about Quathe after season 2...

[@ahthatshot7781]

And they forgot years of build up to the White Walkers in season 8.

[@mackabokh2252]

Man ,,,, you are the best

[@searinglight6119]

I usually love watching Preston Jacob's take on ASoIaF with his tin-foily perspective on everything and his theories about the post-apocalyptic setting or the ideas about genetics. But at the same time I absolutely love your more mystical point of view on the story! (and of course the bit of book-snobbery 😏) You guys should definitely consider making a collaboration at some point!

[@mediocremaiden8883]

Boy, Our Great-Great Grandchildren are gonna super hyped when the Winds of Winter come out and the final book. I Gues we'll just have to friendly haunt them until then??

[@Flexiejaybird]

Dude. Freaking amazing.

[@samsmom1491]

I wonder if Daenyris isn't a dragon herself. Interesting to see how the upcoming and long-awaited book will differ from the final season. HBO never brought in the blue-haired lad to the series and I feel he will have an important roll to play in the book. The suspense is killing me!

[@Palafico3]

Stygai and H.P.'s R'lyeh have similarities but are not the exact same, the name more references the dark sorcerer-country of Stygia from the Conan the Barbarian series. It is said to be the origin place of humanity west of Egypt, which had fallen to the worship the dark god Set, who was the blasphemous Egyptian god of Night that ate Ra every evening. But there are definitely alot of references to Cthulu and Nyrolethotep when it comes to the Shadow and Stygai, especially when you consider the Bloodstone Emperor who worshiped an alien meteor and thus became an insane sorcerer-lord.

[@mattrozzel2997]

I don't know if you read manga but I'd love to see some videos from you on Berserk

[@sideshowdayv]

I can't believe I missed this video

[@usamah5550]

You really should write dude, that was beautiful

[@Bluehawk2008]

Blue-stained lips... is Pyat Pree's name an oblique reference to Piter De Vries, the mentat?

[@kungfusnowbunny]

When you said Quiathe is similar to Bloodrven I thought right away that Quiathe is definitely SHiera Seastar

[@arturleperoke3205]

Very cool! That is unfortunately(or fortunately?) a level GRRM will never outright confirm

[@johnsprague2148]

Very informative, I could listen to you for days...heh.

[@p3pp3rm4n92]

I just understood the mummers dragon. Geez. This is crazy

[@connortraynor6016]

you'd be excellent at narrating a game of thrones audiobooks especially with ambient noise and some music!

[@edwinrodriguez1812]

Stygai comes from a Conan story. Howard not Lovecraft. Easy mistake since they borrowed from each other so much. Great theory

[@sabinebirdsong929]

Interesting that there were two failed attempts (Aegon and Aerys) before the ultimately successful third (Danaerys) attempt in terms of Targaryens becoming obsessed with fire and dragons through what seems to be odd dreams. It seems to happen in threes when it comes to talks of dragons and births and great sacrifices.

[@GabiN64]

makes me want to reread the books

[@rogerfvb]

This channel is too fucking good.

[@CORPORAL-dn7nn]

That’s some heavy dope

[@khaleesiamde6215]

Q is either a Stygai'i or Shiera. Either makes sense, but we'll likely never have confirmation on Danny's prophet.

[@post-leftluddite]

FYI, lacquer is said like "Lack-er" not, "Lick-or"...."lick-or" is an alcoholic beverage that typically has 15%-30% alcohol with sugar and other flavorings added...spelled Liqueur