🧙‍♂️ Red Rahloo or R'hllor? The Only God in Westeros?

[@Netherspark0_0]

I wonder if R'hllor is something akin to the fire version of the old gods - a hive mind of all the people sacrificed by fire.

[@ethans3584]

Are we supposed to notice a parallel between the great other, whose name may not be spoken, and the story of the night's king where the Starks removed all record of their bad relative to expunge them from history?

[@JoeMagician]

Sure can!

[@wolfsbanealphas617]

@@JoeMagician the great other gives whelk of time dark one vibes

[@chrissiek8706]

Tinfoil: Varis is secret Blackfire, so, of king's blood, and that mage could guess that because of his hair color, Targ Blond, and that's why Varis is clean shaven, to cover that. And he's trying to put on the throne his nephew, fAgon, his sister's and Ilirio Mopatis's son.

[@maradjade1848]

I really need to wake up earlier so I can watch these live. Thank you Joe it's amazing.

[@cadepablo87]

Keep up the fantastic livestreams Joe. They never cease to amaze!

[@almmason7]

Great topic, would love to hear a break down of all the God's in Asoiaf... Thanks! 😁

[@chrissiek8706]

The fiery heart reminds me those kitschy prints of Jesus, from grandma's bedroom 😅

[@reddest-x]

I think that the reason why "kings blood" is considered a more valuable sacrifice might be to prevent the mass slaughter of random poor people? Essentially, instead of any 1 life sacrificed equaling any other 1 life sacrificed -- which could lead to the burning of towns en masse (because that would be easy to do and get away with) or perhaps even the burning of fellow followers -- it's encouraged that if a large sacrifice is needed, time and effort is spent to acquire 1 very valuable life. Not that I think that's how the followers of the red god think about it now, but that might be the origin. Just spitballing, though.

[@nickm5647]

It might be that blood magic is more potent the closer the relative is to the person performing/benefitting from the ritual

[@spinakker14]

I used to think that R'hollor is real, but you deconstruct everything so well and convincing that I no longer do, at least in not the way characters and readers think. There still might be some sort of consciousness there, for example when Mel asks for Azor Ahai in the flames, the visions try really hard to show her something else. I also see some planning in how she was seemingly guided to Stannis, only to go from him to Jon

[@ThatKid22101]

The best way god interacts with the world of men is through small actions that build to a singular outcome. I like to think of questioning whether a god is real or not by asking myself, "am I real? Is reality real? I can see and touch it, but is it really there or is reality simply my mind trying to convince itself it's alive and conscious? Are my actions mine alone? Or are they controlled by the atoms and molecules I'm made of?" I am simply an extension of the universe experiencing itself. All things are simply pieces of a greater living entity.

[@QuintRepler]

You earned a Valyrian Steel chainlink for this one

[@dookieshoe2905]

Time for some Red Raloo

[@winterchild6120]

Maybe it was the firemages in the freehold that was originally worshipped, by the slaves that served them. They probably could make fire whights and other otherworldly things. The slaves could have taken it with them to volantis rhllor could be a bastardisation of a valyrien name 🤔

[@espalier]

re: Thoros and the successful Last Kiss. I don't remember the passage, but I'm pretty certain BWB had just been in a battle, and further I'd guess that Thoros had blood on his hands and blade.

[@QueenDaenerysTargaryen]

Why do the gods make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can't protect themselves?

[@Dragon.um5tz]

Because gods are assholes Daenerys if I were Kratos I would slaughter all gods but not literally because I’m no demigod i’m just a simple guy who likes playing violent video games

[@benjaminvonstein]

Could there be a genuinely magic connection to the king's blood thing if we build on top of the idea that "power" exists where men think it does and extrapolate that to "magical power"; so if enough people believe that someone's blood is magical, it becomes more magical? I assume that it's just Mel dressing up her magic by playing on the 'greater the sacrifice...' trope. But if there is some truth to it, maybe it's something along those lines? I come to ASOIAF from the history side, so have nowhere near the same knowledge of other fantasy series as many people in this fandom...but why shouldn't magical power follow some of the same rules as political power?

[@sunrisesparkle6363]

if anything if the Rhllor as faith came from Valyria it would be religion of the high society, the actual Valyrians, not the slaves

[@JoeMagician]

That could be, however when you look at their role in Volantis the religion's supporters are the underclasses while the ruling class and those behind the Black Wall ignore it.

[@wolfsbanealphas617]

@@JoeMagician theirs a theory the LOL was a emissary of the dragon lord gods who grew in power due to attention focused on him

[@JuanRios-kh8sq]

Lol I thought he said Jarjar Martin.

[@jennybird7902]

Fun stream as always! I subscribe to the theory that there isn’t one true religion and none of the “gods” are real in the ASOIAF universe. Magic is real, however, and all the different believers (sometimes non-believers, too) are tapping into the same source of magic, albeit via differing means and ceremonies.

[@karentargaryen7959]

Interesting take on LOL being developed by Valerians to keep the masses in line.

[@starking2162]

I think there are 3 gods. Lots of 3’s in ASoIAF. A fire/life god, a nature/death/frost god, and a sea god. The drowned god, the lord of light, and the many faced god (tho admittedly the drowned god could be an aspect of the many faced god)

[@GeroldGarthcia]

🎶Heeeeeeeey Joe. Whatchu doin' with that stream on on your channel?🎶

[@OfFenzive]

ASOIAF and Bruins fan? Are we the same person dude? Lol

[@deckofcards5985]

I arribe a little bit to late anyway, for my the only real gods are the Lovecraft inspired ones.

[@irieite9666]

The drowned God certainly seems real. Patchfaces prophecies are much more accurate than Melissandre.

[@deckofcards5985]

@@irieite9666 That's Cathulu

[@christianstarr9188]

Anyone else here just get relegated to a wierdo yelling at the sky?