Podcasts about thrones a song

Pippa and KJ go after the behemoth of adaptation that is the HBO show Game of Thrones and its source material, the Song of Ice and Fire series written by George R. R. Martin. Is this our white whale, our green light, our Iron Throne? Or an excuse for two fantasy nerds to chat about one of the most popular fantasy series of all time? Listen on and you decide! Patreon: patreon.com/adaptordiepod Sound editing for this episode by Isabel Forden. Cover art by Jess Rubio.

Plato's Republic is the Mother of Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire. Arya One is the Midwife. Contrary to popular belief, Arya One is not some throwaway text between two vastly more consequential chapters. In fact, it lays out the central moral and ethical questions that power the entire series. That's because Arya One is George's answer to Book V of Plato's Republic, the massively influential--and controversial--heart of Plato's great work. Plato imagines what it might take to create just individuals and a just society to promote and sustain such a citizenry. His arguments are in turns insightful, revolutionary and repugnant. George takes Plato's ideas and puts them in action--he turns Plato's thought experiment into a great fantasy epic. Arguably the action of the series--the "game" in Game of Thrones--is George underlining Plato's point about nepotism and family-based claims to power and resources. Indeed, virtually every major line of argument in Book V is echoed or addressed in some way in Arya One. Equality of opportunity and education, the role of women in society, the desirability and consequences of maintaining family names and lines of succession, bad-ass warrior women, philosopher queens, guard dogs, hunting, and yes, even incest--all of these things and more appear in both Book V and George's work. When Plato writes that a prerequisite for creating philosopher kings and queens is dividing children from their parents at birth, George takes him at his word--Dany and Jon are the literary expressions of this idea. When Plato writes that men and women should enjoy the same opportunities and education, George gives us Jamie and Cersei to show the consequences of failure to do so. He gives us Arya and Brienne to show the alternative scenario; that is, when women are educated according to their unique interest and ability, as opposed to their predetermined, gender-specific roles. In this episode, I point to the links between Plato's Republic Book V and Arya One, and try to explain how this single chapter lays the groundwork for George's entire series. Still working on audio quality issues. I'm a literature nerd, not a sound engineer, but I am trying. References in the text Ancient Greece Declassified: https://www.greecepodcast.com/ Angie Hobbs Plato's Republic: https://fivebooks.com/book/platos-republic-a-ladybird-expert-book/ Mary Townsend: https://www.academia.edu/34022796/The_Woman_Question_in_Platos_Republic Also, here's good, accessible discussion by Santa Clara University's Markkula Center for Applied Ethics about the concepts of fairness and justice in modern society: https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/justice-and-fairness/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/glen-reed/message

Great things sometimes come in small packages. Arya One is a short little chapter that is easy to overlook. People will call it a palate cleanser or the pause that refreshes between two blockbuster chapters, Cat Two and Bran Two, either side of this one. But with the benefit of the re-read, with the ability to see the entire scope and ambition of GRRM's work, it is clear that this chapter presents the core ethical arguments of the entire series. Arya One is inspired by Book V of Plato's Republic, which begins with an admonition to explain the disposition and education of women and children in Plato's idealized, just society. Here Arya talks of fairness, as a nine-year-old child must. But when we hear Arya claim that the prevailing social order based on gender and class is not "fair," we understand that is a nod to the issues raised and addressed in The Republic specifically around these topics. Little nine-year-old Arya fires the opening shots in the complex ethical debate about what makes a just society in this very chapter. There is plenty of evidence to support this argument, and I present it in detail in Part Two of the Arya One re-read. In Part One, we tackle a different, but also profound problem that has confounded humans throughout the ages--that is, is communication even possible? Is it possible to communicate what we feel or think to another person? GRRM takes it even further, showing multiple times already that not only is successful communication difficult to pull off, but failure to communicate can in fact be deadly. The good news is that George would say, yes, there is a way to communicate our feelings toward another person, but just don't do it with words! This solves the riddle of the constant mussing of the hair that goes on in this chapter--it's an unmistakable sign of affection and no words are necessary. Which brings us around to another one of Plato's classic arguments--beware of rhetoric. Speech, the spoken word, is an important source of deception. And indeed, George spends much of the chapter showing us precisely this, mostly through Sansa's lying teeth. I argue that while George makes it manifest in this chapter, this phenomenon has in fact been latent throughout the book so far. So please do dig in and engage with Part One until we return with Part Two, when we'll dive into questions and fairness and education, and show how Arya One links to one of Plato's most famous chapters. Thanks for listening! Woot woot!!! Here's an academic from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln talking about Plato's (and Aristotle's) influence on the series specifically referencing the Gorgias. Note, this article is written from the perspective of the conclusion of the show, so it's definitely a different angle of attack, but the thrust of the argument is the same. Please note there are MAJOR SPOILERS for both books and show in this one: https://www.newswise.com/articles/how-game-of-thrones-embraced-the-platonic-ideal --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/glen-reed/message

The librarians and special guest Lindsey take on the popular Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire universe from George R.R. Martin. In this episode, we explore: high vs. low fantasy; architect vs. gardener writers (and whether they're obliged to finish the stories they start); how turtles and the Wars of the Roses played into Martin's creations; and whether our favorite characters ended up where we wanted them to in the HBO series. Spoilers! Write to us at podcast@communitylibrary.net Borrow George R.R. Martin items InterLibrary Loan Become a Member

Dany oversees preparation for Drogo's funeral pyre. In addition to a bit of wood, and a lot of oil, she adds to the kindling the Khal's various treasures, Mirri Maz Duur, another dead horse, all three of her priceless dragon eggs, and eventually herself. She (well, she is the last dragon) survives and the three eggs hatch into dragons. Seriously: dragons. The boys don their oven-gloves and pay homage. Chapter Review: Dany orders the khalasar to gather enough wood to create a fire for Drogo's funeral. They liberally splash it with oil to aid the burn. Dany reassures Ser Jorah that she does not intend to die tonight. She adds the eggs to the fire, to his consternation - selling one of those bad-boys could fund their retirement! She frees the slaves, gives gifts to her khas - who disavow her brazenly to her face, and has Mirri chained to the bonfire for her sins. Mirri believes that Dany is trying some amateur blood magic of her own (she could hardly do it worse than the professionals). As the fire is lit everyone backs off, but Dany. The last Targaryen is drawn to the flames even as her clothes and hair are burned away. The pyre collapses and she is lost from view. Hours later, when the fire has cooled enough, Jorah and the rest of the khalasar approach to find Daenerys Stormborn suckling her three new babies. Dragons... Characters/Places/Names/Events: Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys.  Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targaryen. Mirri Maz Duur - Priestess and healer of the Lhazareen. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:  INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Cat and company arrive in Riverrun to find Lord Hoster Tully on his deathbed. With both Baratheon brothers vying to take the throne from their nephew, the Northern lords don't know who to support. The Greatjohn Umber has a creative solution, and declares Robb the King in the North to general approval. The boys dip their lances and consider bending the knee. Chapter Review: Catelyn re-enters Riverrun, where she grew up, for the first time in years. She's escorted to her father's rooms by her brother Edmure, recently freed from captivity in Jamie Lannister's host. Lord Hoster is near death but is glad to receive Cat. He's less thrilled to hear that his brother has come home. The old guy still has smouldering animosity for Brynden, and a fondness for his first grandson Robb. Cat finds Robb praying with the northern lords in the Godswood, where she played as a child. He's too busy to see his grandpa, as news has arrived that Renly Baratheon has wed Margery Tyrell and claimed the Iron Throne. With Tywin Lannister retreating to Harrenhal, the path forward for the northern army is not clear. Stannis has the better claim, but Renly has more (i.e., some) charisma. When it feels like the discussion is going, nowhere the GreatJohn Umber rises and dismisses all these southern kings, they mean nothing to him. The only king he'd follow is Robb Stark: the King in the North. All agree. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun. Father to Catelyn Stark, Edmure Tully, and Lysa Arryn. Old and in poor health. Edmure Tully - Heir to Riverrun. Brother to Catelyn Stark. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - Brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Catelyn Stark. Formerly Knight of the Gate in the Vale. Theon Greyjoy - Ward and hostage of Eddard Stark. Only surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, and heir to the Iron Islands. Lord John “The Greatjohn” Umber - Lord of Last Hearth - huge. Lost two fingers to Grey Wind, now fiercely loyal to Robb Stark. Jamie Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Stannis Baratheon - Eldest brother of dead King Robert Baratheon. At Dragonstone. Renly Baratheon - Youngest brother of dead King Robert Baratheon. Recently married to Margery Tyrell and claimant to the Iron Throne. Riverrun - Capital of the Riverlands, seat of House Tully. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Jon decides his future lies south of the wall. He rides out to join Robb in his fight. He's prevented from his oath-breaking by his friends, who ride after him and drag him back. Jeor Mormont announces that the Night's Watch will march north of the Wall to figure out what's going on, and Jon better jolly-well come along. The boys prepare for winter. Chapter Review: Jon Snow saddles up and, ignoring Sam's pleas, heads south to join his brother Robb Stark. He does have a few doubts about the reception his brother will give him. As Lord of Winterfell, Robb might feel the need to behead Jon for oath-breaking. Grenn, Pyp, Toad, Halder, and Matthar catch up with him and, by being unarmed and unarmored, they shame Jon into returning with them. As he serves Mormont breakfast, he's plotting his next escape. But Mormont reveals that he knows his men, and had set a watch on Jon. He's going nowhere. Mormont uses the dastardly trick of logical argument to convince Jon to stay. Is Jon such a great warrior that he would tip the war in Robb's favor? Has Jon paid any attention to the portents at the Wall, you know, like the dead rising? The realm's real fight is right here, and right here Jon might actually make a difference. The Night's Watch will sortie north of the wall to find Benjen Stark, to gain intel on Mance Rayder (the King Beyond the Wall), and to learn the truth about the Others. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Former Lord of Winterfell. Executed by King Joffrey Baratheon for treason. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night's Watch. Heavy-set and cowardly. Attendant to Maester Aemon. Friend to Jon Snow. Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Maester Aemon - 100-year-old maester of the Night's Watch. Now revealed to be Aemon Targaryen. Benjen Stark - First Ranger of the Night's Watch. Missing north of the wall. Younger brother of Eddard Stark. Ser Jaremy Rykker - Acting First Ranger, in Benjen Stark's absence. Mance Rayder - leader of the Wildlings, self-styled King-Beyond-The-Wall. Ghost - Jon Snow's direwolf. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night's Watch at the Wall. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:  INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

News of Jamie's capture reaches Tywin. The siege of Riverrun is lifted and Edmure Tully freed. Renly Baratheon has married Margery Tyrell and claimed the throne. Suddenly the Lannister procession is in danger of becoming a rout. Tywin orders Tyrion to King's Landing to bring the new king to heel. The boys are right there with him. Chapter Review: Tywin's bannermen are gathered at the Inn at the Crossroads, again. A messenger from Jamie's army has arrived with only bad news: Jamie is captured. The siege of Riverrun ended. The sell-swords have flipped allegiance. Edmure Tully has been rescued. Maybe 2000 men survived to flee back to the Golden Tooth, but the rest are lost. The bannermen, who aren't a particularly impressive group, are dismayed. They agree that everything should be done to ransom Jamie, but Tyrion points out that Joffrey's decision to behead Ned has shattered any possibility of that happening. Eventually, Tywin turfs them all out apart from Tyrion and Kevan. He announces that they'll retreat south to Harrenhal which his host is large enough to defend. With enemies on all sides, there's not much more he can do. In the meantime, his brutes will continue to burn and pillage the Riverlands. Lastly, Tyrion will be dispatched to King's Landing to rule. He's charged with bringing the new King into line, and Cersei too, and to figure out if anyone on the Small Council is worth their salt. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock. Father of Jamie, Cersei, and Tyrion Lannister. Kevan Lannister - Younger brother of Tywin Lannister. Uncle to Tyrion. Jamie Lannister - Eldest son of Tywin Lannister. Member of the King's Guard. Currently in the custody of Robb Stark. Shae - a prostitute, consort of Tyrion Lannister. Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain that Rides. Sandor Clegane's older brother. Bannerman to Tywin Lannister. Lord Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Silent, watchful, and unnerving. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Sansa tries to come to terms with her reality. King Joffrey reveals that they are still to be married, that his name-day is coming up, and that his cruelty doesn't end with just killing her father. Meryn Trant puts on the hurt and Sandor Clegane is uncommonly solicitous. The guys dab the blood from Sansa's cheek and help to plot our revenge. Chapter Review: Sansa is unwashed and ignored in her chambers in King's Landing. She's not eating and bouncing between awful dreams of her father's death and the awful reality of it. She feels utterly betrayed having kept her side of every bargain. Joffrey tells her to get up and Meryn Trant gives her something to cry about. She steels her resolve and attends Joffrey at court. He's his usual self. Bored and inconsiderate punctuated by bouts of being engaged but vile. After he takes his leave, he demands Sansa join him. The Hound encourages her compliance - but kind of nicely. Joffrey's outing is to see the heads on spikes, including Ned and Septa Mordane. He knows how to show a girl a good time. Sansa gives Joffrey some sass and Meryn Trant beats her bloody again. Sansa toys with the notion of pushing Joffrey off the battlements, but as her thought crystallizes into action Clegane interposes and gently dabs the blood from her lips. She thanks him and a weird alliance is cemented. Characters/Places/Names/Events: King Joffrey Baratheon - bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Currently King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. Janos Slynt - Commander of the City Watch (AKA Gold Cloaks), the police force of King's Landing. Now elevated to Lord of Harrenhal and given a seat on the Small Council. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Member of the king's Small Council. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Eddard "Ned" Stark - Now deceased former Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and father of Sansa. Ser Meryn Trant - Member of the Kingsguard in King's Landing. Sandor Clegane - The Hound. Prince Joffrey's personal protector. Member of the Kingsguard. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Dany wakes to a whole slew of bad news. Her baby Rhaego was stillborn and monstrous. Khal Drogo is alive but catatonic. The Khalasar is gone. The boys take a long hard look at Mirri Maz Duur's medical license and consider what Dany's options are now. Chapter Review: Daenerys  Targaryen has vivid dreams about the waking of the dragon. The dreams begin with the familiar warning, “You don't want to wake the dragon, do you?” But as the dream narrows and becomes more prophetic, the words are dropped until all that is left is a rather different order(?)/suggestion(?) “Wake the dragon.” When the all-too-human Daenerys wakes, it is to an entirely different world. Rhaego was born but was a creature of nightmares, with leathery wings and a tail. He did not survive. Drogo lives, but his spirit is gone. She confronts Mirri Maz Duur who, despite having a few things she could say to save herself, admits that she was seeking revenge for what happened to her people. Drogo lives, but his life is intolerably circumscribed. Mirri points out that her own life was rich and full until Drogo came. She is unrepentant. Dany does everything in her power to revive Drogo, but nothing works. When she's convinced that he cannot come back to her, she smothers him with a pillow. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki Khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys. Pregnant with Rhaego Targaryen, the Stallion who Mounts the World. Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targaryen. Spying on the Targaryens for Lord Varys. Mirri Maz Duur - Priestess and healer of the Lhazareen. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Bran and Rickon both dream that their father visits them in the crypts. Maester Luwin tries to reassure them that dreams are just dreams. Osha is not so sure, especially when a raven arrives with news from King's Landing. Simon and Mac examine the dark words. Chapter Review: Bran Stark and maester Luwin watch the remnants of the north being trained by Ser Rodrick Cassel. They don't look great. Bran wants to visit the crypts, but Hodor won't go down there. He explains to Luwin that last night he dreamt he talked to his father down there. They agree to visit, with Osha taking the Hodor role. Bran talks Osha through the family history as they walk past his ancestors, she's a little bit impressed. When they reach Ned's waiting tomb, they are attacked by Shaggydog. Luwin receives a nasty cut, and both Summer and Shaggy are bloodied by the time Rickon calls off the fight. He too has dreamt of his father in the crypts. They return to Luwin's tower to patch him up and continue the lessons in history and dreams versus reality. Suddenly the wolves howl as a battered looking raven lands on the ledge. Without reading it, Osha and the boys know exactly what news the dark wings bring. Characters/Places/Names/Events:Eddard "Ned" Stark - The now deceased former Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and close friend to King Robert. Brandon (Bran) Stark -  Middle son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. He was pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister and lost the use of his legs. Rickon Stark - Youngest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Maester Luwin - A maester in the service of house Stark at Winterfell.  Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Aging knight who had accompanied Cat on her journey to King's Landing. Now the castellan of Winterfell. Hodor - A huge but simple man who carries Bran Stark wherever he wishes to go. Osha - A wildling captured by the Starks, now held as servant/prisoner in Winterfell.Shaggydog - The direwolf of Rickon Stark. Summer - The direwolf of Bran Stark.  Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

After traversing the mean streets of King's Landing, Arya winds up following the crowd to the Sept of Baelor. There she finds her father, sister, King Joffrey, and the rest. Ned admits to treason and hails Joffrey as the true king. That should then get Sansa what she asked for: mercy for her father. However, Joffrey being Joffrey, he instead calls for Ned's head. The guys walk you through the whole somber affair. Chapter Review: Arya Stark has been living rough on the streets of King's Landing, since fleeing from the Lannister guards. She's been beaten up, had her belongings stolen, and gone hungry. After killing a fat pigeon, Arya makes her way down to the wharfs. There she finds the Wind Witch, the same ship her father scheduled to take her and Sansa home to Winterfell. Stark men hang around out front. Arya can't believe it. However, as she gets closer, she  realizes that she doesn't recognize any of the men. Smelling a trap, she leaves before they realize who she is. She leaves the wharfs and heads to Flea Bottom to eat, only to discover that her pigeon is missing. Dejected, hungry, and beaten up, Arya follows the crowd and the sounds of bells to the Sept of Baelor. There she finds her father flanked by gold cloaks of the city watch. She also sees her sister Sansa, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei, and most of the royal entourage. Ned announces that he's committed treason. That he tried to steal the throne for himself. Joffrey is the true king of the Seven Kingdoms. Joffrey tells the crowd that his mother wants him to allow Ned to take The Black. That Sansa has begged him for mercy. After smiling at Sansa, he turns to the crowd and proclaims that no treason will go unpunished, while he's king. He asks Ser Ilyn Payne to bring him Ned's head. Arya tries to rush the stage, but before she can get there, she's grabbed by a stranger. Arya realizes he's not actually a stranger. It's Yoren of the Night's Watch. He refers to Arya as "boy," tells her that she'll be coming with him. Characters/Places/Names/Events: King Joffrey Baratheon - bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Currently King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Tomboy. Escaped the Lannisters, now in the company of Yoren of the Night's Watch. Eddard "Ned" Stark - Erstwhile hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and deceased King Robert's closest friend. Recently beheaded for treason by order of King Joffrey Baratheon. Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Member of the small council. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Fellow member of the king's Small Council. Janos Slynt - Commander of the City Watch (AKA Gold Cloaks), the police force of King's Landing. Now elevated to Lord of Harrenhal and given a seat on the Small Council. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQSupport the show

Khal Drogo's health deteriorates, causing Dany to make a pact with Mirri Maz Duur to use dark blood magic to bring him back. This causes a ruckus in the Khalasar. Ser Jorah defends Dany, but she goes into labor. He carries her to her midwife - but unfortunately, that is mid-spell Mirri Maz Duur. The boys worry for the whole Drogo family. Chapter Review: Khal Drogo's wounds have become infected and he falls from his horse. Dany demands that the khalasar camp here for the night and that Mirri Maz Duur attend him. Drogo's blooriders are convinced that the slave is poisoning Drogo, but Dany upbraids them and they begrudgingly comply. When his tent is erected, Dany and crew survey Khal Drogo's chest. It is immediately apparent that he's on death's door. Ser Jorah counsels that the two of them flee immediately. Dany cannot understand why they would, when she bears the heir but he points out that the Dothraki think little of hereditary rights and no mere prophecy would prevent a would-be Khal from killing her and her son. Mirri agrees to try blood magic to save Drogo, but nobody can enter the tent during the incantation. Unfortunately, Ser Jorah does not hear this warning, and when Dany's labor is induced by a fall, he carries the Khaleesi to her midwife, with unknown consequences. Characters/Places/Names/Events:Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki Khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys. Pregnant with Rhaego Targaryen, the Stallion who Mounts the World. Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targryen. Spying on the Targaryens for Ser Varys. Qotho - Dothraki warrior. Blood rider of Khal Drogo. Lhazareen - Peaceful sheep farmers of the southern Dothraki sea. Mirri Maz Duur - Priestess and healer of the Lhazareen. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Robb Stark's host lures a large Lannister force away from their siege of Riverrun. Battle ensues in the Whispering Woods. Cat watches and mostly listens, and is rewarded with the capture of none-other-than Jamie Lannister and several of his kin. The boys discuss the shift in the balance of power. Chapter Review: Brydnen Tully reports that Jamie Lannister's forces are split into three, in order to surround Riverrun. His outriders have prevented any news (of the split of Robb's forces) from reaching Jamie, and a series of raids and retreats have shown that Jamie is a bit bored and inclined to chase down the raiders. A plan is hatched. Cat watches through the fog, as northern forces array around a valley in the Whispering Woods. The latest and largest raiding party enters the valley, with Jamie and a large contingent of his besiegers in hot pursuit. Horns sound and the trap is spring. Cat cannot really see much, but she hears muffled fighting.  When it is all over, Theon Greyjoy and GreatJon Umber drag Jamie Lannister before her. He came awfully close to getting to Robb Stark, but he now represents a prized bargaining chip. Other Lannister cousins and loyalists are also captured, and the whole direction of the conflict has tipped. Characters/Places/Names/Events:Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun. Father to Catelyn Stark, Edmure Tully, and Lysa Arryn. Old and in poor health. Brynden “Blackfish” Tully - Brother of Hoster Tully, uncle to Catelyn Stark. Formerly Knight of the Gate in the Vale. Theon Greyjoy - Ward and hostage of Eddard Stark. Only surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, and heir to the Iron Islands. Lord John “The GreatJohn” Umber - Lord of Last Hearth - huge. Lost two fingers to Grey Wind, now fiercely loyal to Robb Stark. Jamie Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Riverrun - Capital of the Riverlands, seat of House Tully. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Tyrion is invited to join the vanguard of the forthcoming battle with the northern army.  He meets a young lady who might just be his match, and he somehow contrives to survive the battle.  The day belongs to the Lannisters, but key elements of the northern host are absent.  The boys weigh up the strategic advantage and moon over the charming Shae. Chapter Review: Tyrion and crew have traveled a couple of hundred miles up the Kingsroad to face Robb Stark's army. The two forces are set to meet the next day. Tyrion tries dining with his father, but Tywin's willingness to see his youngest son go into battle in the vanguard without so much as command robs him of his appetite. He gets back to his own tent to discover he's missed dinner there too. Bronn has acquired the services of a prostitute for Tyrion's last evening on earth. Shae is a sassy young thing, and Tyrion is instantly charmed. He promises her gold, but demands exclusivity. Their night together ends abruptly when the alarm sounds that the northern army has marched through the night. Tyrion's new squire, Podrick Payne, is asleep on the job and Tyrion almost misses the action. Tyrion and his mountain clans acquit themselves well and the Lannister forces are victorious. However, although the victory has delivered multiple high-value assets to Tywin and company, it turns out that a trick has been pulled and Robb Stark has crossed the Green Fork at the Twins and is presumably headed to Riverrun to harry Jaime.  Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock. Father of Jamie, Cersei, and Tyrion Lannister.Bronn - A sellsword who fought and won Tyrion's trial by combat. Now Tyrion's friend and bodyguard. Shae - A prostitute, consort of Tyrion Lannister. Podrick Payne - Squire to Tyrion Lannister. Shagga - Member of the Stone Crows mountain clan in the Mountains of the Moon.  Confederate/captor of Tyrion Lannister. Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain that Rides. Sandor Clegane's older brother. Bannerman to Tywin Lannister. Lord Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort. Silent, watchful, and unnerving. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Dany annoys some of the khalasar by rescuing new slaves from rape and murder. Khal Drogo hurt in the raid that won the slaves, backs her up. One of the women Dany saved is a healer and she agrees to patch up the wounded Khal. Mackelly and Simon cast an expert eye over the stitchwork. Chapter Review: Khal Drogo's khalasar stumbles across Khal Ogo and crew attacking a town of sheep-farmers. The peaceful Lhazareen are thrilled when Drogo's forces attack and destroy the rival Dothraki. However, their relief is short-lived: Drogo's men finish the job off and destroy the village killing or enslaving everyone. The warriors set about systematic rape and pillage. Dany, against advice, rescues several women from their plight. This causes dissent in the ranks, but Khal Drogo cannot help but take her side. He's picked up a few wounds and she wants him to call for a medic. They have their hands full, but one of Dany's entourage of new slaves (Mirri Maz Duur) offers to help. Drogo's blood riders have misgivings. A female healer is obviously a witch of some sort. But Dany thinks she can trust her. Drogo grits his teeth as hot wine is applied and sutures are inserted. Qotho warns Mirri that her life depends on the Khal's uneventful recovery. Dany is impressed by the bedside manner (of Mirri, not Qotho) and asks her to be midwife at Rhaego's birth.  Characters/Places/Names/Events:Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki Khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys. Pregnant with Rhaego Targaryen, the Stallion who Mounts the World. Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targryen. Spying on the Targaryens for Ser Varys. Rhaegar Targaryen - Crown prince to Aerys Targaryen. Killed by Robert Baratheon during the Battle at the Trident. Qotho - Dothraki warrior. Blood rider of Khal Drogo. Khal Ogo - Head of a rival khalasar. Lhazareen - Peaceful sheep farmers of the southern Dothraki sea.Mirri Maz Duur - Priestess and healer of the Lhazareen.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Jon gets a pardon and a shiny new sword from Jeor Mormont. His buddies are all excited but Jon is preoccupied with news from the south. Maester Aemon sympathizes and reveals a shocker. Simon and Mackelly continue their watch. Chapter Review: Jon has burned his hand in finally killing off Othor. While he's nursing it, Lord Commander Mormont presents him with a sword. It is the family sword of the Mormonts, it too was burned but the Valyrian steel survived. The new handle replaces the bear with a direwolf. Jon decides to keep the name, Longclaw, as it works as well for a wolf as a bear. Even better news for Jon is that Alliser Thorne has been sent to King's Landing to make the case for more troops, with the help of Jafar Flowers' trusty and un-decomposing hand. Jon is very concerned about the latest rumors from the south: Robb calling the banners and marching south to fight for their father. Jon is summoned to help maester Aemon feed his ravens. The old man reminds Jon of his vows. Jon doesn't think Aemon understands, but the maester reveals that he is Aemon Targaryen so, yeah, he's had a few family setbacks that he has had to endure in his time at the wall.    Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Erstwhile hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and deceased King Robert's closest friend. Currently languishing in a King's Landing cell for treason. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night's Watch. Heavy-set and cowardly. Attendant to maester Aemon. Friend to Jon Snow. Ser Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Master of Arms for the Night's Watch. Mean-spirited instructor of the new recruits. Not a fan of Jon Snow. Maester Aemon - 100 year-old maester of the Night's Watch. Now revealed to be Aemon Targaryen. Ghost - Jon Snow's direwolf. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night's Watch at the Wall. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

The northern army reaches the Twins. They need to cross the Green Fork, but only  Walder Frey can make that happen. Cat shows off all her negotiation skills in brokering a deal that gets them across safely with only two of her kids married off to Freys. Simon and Mackelly divide and conquer. Chapter Review: The northern host arrives at the Twins, seat of House Frey. The only crossing of the Green Fork in the next 500 miles. Lord Walder will exact a toll. The Frey's send out a welcoming party, inviting Robb Stark to come and discuss. The various lords argue and disagree, but Catelyn Stark cuts through the nonsense by agreeing to go instead. She's banking on the Frey's fealty to House Tully to keep her safe. Inside she's not warmly welcomed, and Walder (surrounded by his prodigious progeny) fairly observes that he also has an oath to King Joffrey, so whichever way he chooses he's an oath-breaker. He bears a grudge for every slight, intended and imagined, ever thrown at the Freys. Cat tries to lend a sympathetic ear. Lord Frey clears the hall and they haggle. Cat returns to the host. Great news, the host can cross and the Frey's 4,000 soldiers will boost their ranks. A couple of kids to be fostered at Winterfell, a new squire for Robb, a future husband for Arya, and Robb gets his pick of the daughters to be the next Lady of Winterfell. She drives a hard bargain that Cat!Characters/Places/Names/Events: Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun. Father to Catelyn Stark, Edmure Tully, and Lysa Arryn. Old and in poor health. Walder Frey - Ninety-year-old lord of the Crossings. He's known for his large brood of children and grandchildren. He's also known for not picking sides of a dispute until the outcome is decided. The Twins - Seat of House Frey. A castle made up of identical castles on each side of the Green Fork river connected by a bridge spanning the river. Riverrun - Capital of the Riverlands, seat of House Tully. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Ned suffers some pretty brutal sensory deprivation down in the dungeons. Allowing his overactive imagination to run wild. A surprise visitor gives him some advice on how to free himself, but can Eddard bring himself to do the smart thing, instead of the right thing? Mac and Simon are more than capable of both. Chapter Review: Eddard Stark is visited by dreams, ghosts, and eunuchs in the Red Keep's dungeons. He dreams of Rhaegar Targaryen presenting Lyanna Stark with the blue roses, after winning the jousting at the Harrenhal Tourney. He's mocked by King Robert's ghost for where his uncompromising stiff neck has brought him. He gets some wine and advice from Lord Varys.Varys explains how the realm is descending into anarchy, but that Sansa has made a plea for Ned's life. Lord Stark must swallow his pride and admit to treason, proclaim Joffrey the rightful king, and bend the knee. The next visitor could bring Eddard some much needed food, or Sansa' head, it all depends on Ned.Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Former Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Father of King Joffrey Baratheon. Ser Barriston Selmy - Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Older but still deadly with a sword or a lance. Renly Baratheon - King Robert's youngest brother. Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Fellow member of the king's Small Council. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers.  Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Sansa attends King Joffrey's first court session. It's everything she never dreamed of. Janos Slynt gets a meteoric promotion, Ser Barristan Selmy gets similarly precipitous demotion. And Sansa begs for her father's life. Despite a chorus of naysayers, good King Joffrey is moved to mercy. The boys cast a skeptical eye over the whole thing. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark enters the throne room and is treated as a leper by all. Even drunken Ser Dontos Hollard stifles his greeting when reminded of who she is. No matter, she's on a mission. Pycelle reads out a list of people who are expected to come to King's Landing to pledge fealty to the new King. It's pretty much everyone in Westeros. Arya is on the list - which gives Sansa hope that her sister might have escaped. Janos Slynt is given the Lordship of Harrenhal and a seat on the Small Council. Cersei is named regent. Tywin Lannister is named Hand of the King. Barristan Selmy is then unceremoniously fired from his role as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. He storms out muttering mutinous words about Stannis' claim to the throne. Sansa's moment arrives. She begs forgiveness for her father. She puts his lack of judgement down to the milk of the poppy he was taking for his broken leg. The Small Council advise the King to harden his heart, but King Joffrey claims to be moved by Sansa's sweet words. Provided that Lord Stark retracts his prior accusations and pledge fealty, there will be mercy. Characters/Places/Names/Events: King Joffrey Baratheon - bastard son of Jaime Lannister and his twin sister Queen Cersei Lannister. Currently King Joffrey Baratheon First of His Name. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. Mother of King Joffrey Baratheon. Janos Slynt - Commander of the City Watch (AKA Gold Cloaks), the police force of King's Landing. Now elevated to Lord of Harrenhal and given a seat on the Small Council. Ser Barristan Selmy - Ousted Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Older but still deadly with a sword or a lance. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Fellow member of the king's Small Council. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon. Eddard "Ned" Stark - Former Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and King Robert's closest friend. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Tyrion and Co finally get back to the Inn at the Crossroads where he and his new entourage receive a frosty welcome from his father. The war is going well, but Tywin still volunteers Tyrion to fight with his new Mountain Clan regiment. The boys' impression of Lannister Senior, is not exactly re-calibrated. Chapter Review: The march down the mountain road comes to an end at a Lannister barricade. They're naturally leery of the 300 mountain clansmen, but Tyrion is recognized and welcomed. He and the clan chiefs make their way through the miles of troops to the Inn at the Crossroads. While the chiefs are fed and watered, Tyrion visits with his father Tywin and Uncle Kevan. Kevan seems pleased to see his nephew, but the reception from his dad is more frosty. They provide him with an update on the state of the war (going great) and charge him with dealing with the meddlesome group including Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, who, slightly off original mission, continue to harry Tywin's southern flank. The chiefs enter uninvited and Tywin pivots to put these fearsome fighters at the vanguard of his troops for the march north along the Kingsroad to engage Robb Stark's army who are reportedly heading south. They agree but insist that Tyrion fights with them. Tywin's fine with that. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock. Father of Jamie, Cersei, and Tyrion Lannister. Bronn - A sellsword who fought and won Tyrion's trial by combat. Now Tyrion's friend and bodyguard.  Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister, mother of "King" Joffrey Baratheon. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Jamie Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross BugdenINSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Instead of returning to Winterfell, Cat joined her first-born Robb, at Moat Cailin, as he prepared for war with the Lannisters. Showing major restraint, rather than hug him, hold him, and scold him for riding off to war, she helps him devise a battle strategy. Simon and Mac take you through the battle plans and examine what the lords of the North are up against. Chapter Review: When Catelyn Stark, Ser Rodrik Cassel, and Ser Brynden "Blackfish" Tully, reach White Harbor, after leaving the Vale, they learn that Cat's son Robb Stark and his lords bannermen are at Moat Cailin with a large army. Cat decides that she should go to him, rather than return to Winterfell and her two younger sons. Upon arriving at Moat Cailin, she informs the lords that she has lost Tyrion Lannister as a hostage, much to the dismay of the men. She then boots the men from the room and has some one-on-one time with her son. When the two are alone, Robb turns into a 15-year-old boy looking to his mother for help. She tells him that the Knights of the Vale aren't coming to assist them, so he needs to figure out a plan with what he's got. Robb decides to bait Tywin Lannister's army with his foot soldiers, drawing them north, away from the southern crossing of the Green Fork of the Trident. Meanwhile, he and his mounted soldiers will sneak down the west bank to Riverrun and aid Edmure Tully in the fight against Jamie Lannister's army. Cat announces that, as he father is ill and brother besieged, she's coming with him to Riverrun. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Catelyn Stark - Lady of Winterfell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun. Father to Catelyn Stark, Edmure Tully, and Lysa Arryn. Old and in poor health. Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale. Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Aging knight who has accompanied Cat on her journey to King's Landing. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross BugdenINSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Dany survives a poisoning plot thanks to Ser Jorah's timely intervention. Khal Drogo is so grateful he gives Mormont a horse and Dany what she wishes: the Khalasar will cross the Narrow Sea and take back the Iron Throne for her. Mackelly and Simon fortify their castles in anticipation. Chapter Review: Khal Drogo has got no interest in Westeros. As far as he is concerned, the world that his future son Rhaego will mount ends at the Narrow Sea. Daenerys Targaryen doesn't push her luck (who would after witnessing Viserys' coronation?) Drogo goes hunting. Daenerys goes to the market. Ser Jorah gets news from Westeros. A wine-seller digs out a special cask just for the Khaleesi. Ser Jorah thinks the merchant should sample his own wares. The man apparently doesn't like wine and tries unsuccessfully to high-tail it out of there. Wait a minute! It was poison. A letter from Illyrio Mopatis to Viserys confirms that a lordship is on offer to anyone who can murder a Targaryen. Daenerys feels the dragon stirring within her, and tries to wake her dragon eggs with fire. No luck. Drogo kills a white lion, but that is quickly forgotten when he learns of the plot. The usurper tried to kill his wife, in Vaes Dothrak? He has gone too far. The best horse in the khalasar for Ser Jorah for saving Daenerys. And puke-bags, at the ready we're going on a cruise everybody. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki Khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys. Pregnant with Rhaego, the Stallion who Mounts the World. Viserys Targaryen - Deposed heir to the Iron Throne. Older brother to Daenerys. Killed by Khal Drogo. Illyrio Mopatis - Wealthy magister from the Free City of Pentos. Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targryen. Spying on the Targaryens for Lord Varys. Doreah - Lysine handmaid to Daenerys Targaryen. She's charged with teaching Dany the womanly arts. Her previous career in a pleasure house of Lys makes her something of an expert. Jhogo - Dothraki warrior. Member of Daenerys Targaryen's Khas (personal guards). Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross BugdenINSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Bran watches the Karstarks arrive at Winterfell. He talks to Osha, who warns him of the Others and assures him that the danger to their safety is not from King's Landing, but from north of the Wall. Nevertheless, the Stark banners head south to defend the Riverlands and hopefully rescue Ned. The boys try to see things through Bran's eyes (all three of them). Chapter Review: Bran watches as the Karstarks swell the numbers at Winterfell to 12,000 soldiers. Robb's headed south to protect the Riverlands, find his mom, and hopefully rescue his father and sisters from the clutches of Queen Cersei. This despite receiving word from Sansa that Robb and their mother should could to King's Landing and bend the knee. In the Godswood with Hodor's, Bran encounters Osha the wildling. She assures Bran that Robb and his army should be heading north. Whatever his concern is with the south, it's nothing compared to what's coming from the north. Bran promises to convince Robb. But he doesn't get the chance. Robb is busy convincing the hard northern Lords to follow a green boy of summer, with some help from Grey Wind. Bran confides in Maester Luwin, but the old man assures Bran that Osha's stories are fanciful. A couple of days later the armies head south, leaving Bran in charge of Winterfell. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Ned and Catelyn (Cat). Acting Lord of Winterfell.Brandon (Bran) Stark -  Middle son of Ned and Cat. Was pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister and lost the use of his legs.Rickon Stark - Youngest son of Ned and Cat.Theon Greyjoy - Ward and hostage of Eddard Stark. Only surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, and heir to the Iron Islands.Maester Luwin - Maester in the service of house Stark.Hodor - Huge but simple man who carries Bran Stark wherever he wishes to go.John “The GreatJohn” Umber - Lord of Last Hearth. Lost two fingers to Grey Wind, now fiercely loyal to Robb Stark.Roose Bolton - Lord of the Dreadfort.Maege Mormont - Lord of Bear Island. Sister of Jeor, aunt of Jorah.Rickard Karstark - Lord of Karhold.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross BugdenINSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Jon and a delegation from the Night's Watch find the bodies of Othor and Jafer Flowers near the Godswood. They bring them back to Castle Black for examination, but Othor's story is not quite done yet. Jon and Ghost save Lord Commander Mormont, which is a good job, because Jon had been very naughty. The boys discuss Jon's failings. Chapter Review: Jon, Sam, and the senior members of the Night's Watch find the bodies that Ghost discovered. They are rangers from Benjen Stark's party. Sam goes all CSI: They seem to have been dead a while, but they haven't rotted. Mormont is troubled and wants Maester Aemon to examine them, despite the misgivings of some of the men. When they return to Castle Black, a raven has brought news of Robert's death and Eddard Stark's treason. Ser Alliser mock's Jon as not only a bastard but the bastard-son of a traitor. Jon loses his temper and his liberty. But in the night, Ghost wakes Jon. Something is amiss. They trace the trouble to Mormont's quarters, where Othor is up and about - and up to no good. Jon and Ghost manage to defeat him with fire. Hopefully regaining the Lord Commander's good graces. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Erstwhile hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and deceased King Robert's closest friend. Currently languishing in a King's Landing cell for treason. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night's Watch. Heavy-set and cowardly. Attendant to Maester Aemon. Friend to Jon Snow. Ser Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Master of Arms for the Night's Watch. Mean-spirited instructor of the new recruits. Not a fan of Jon Snow. Maester Aemon - 100 year-old maester of the Night's Watch. Ghost - Jon Snow's direwolf. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night's Watch at the Wall. Benjen Stark - First Ranger of the Night's Watch. Missing north of the wall. Younger brother of Eddard Stark. Ser Jaremy Rykker - Acting First Ranger in Benjen Stark's absence. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Sansa is in the clutches of the Lannisters. She only wants to marry Joffrey. They only want her to write to her family demanding their fealty. If she can do that, her dreams might come true. Mac and Simon weigh Sansa's decisions and prospects. Chapter Review: Sansa and Jeyne Poole are confined to apartments in Maegor's Holdfast. Jeyne can't stop crying, having witnessed the butchery that the Lannisters visited on the Starks. Sansa missed all that, because instead of packing for the journey home, she went and told the queen her dad's plans and was incarcerated for "her safety." Sansa is presented to the queen and the small council. All agree that she is not really future queenly material any more in light of her father's treason. She tries to defend him, but upon discovering that they might still allow her wedding to happen, she soon forgets his plight. Cersei determines that Jeyne is a bad influence, what with her eye-witnessing and all, so she's to be rehoused by Petyr Baelish.Sansa just needs to write to brother Robb, mother Cat, Grandfather Hoster Tully, and Aunt Lysa Arryn telling them all to come down to King's Landing and bend the knee to their new king, and she'll back in the good books. She grabs a pen. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend.Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister, mother of "King" Joffrey Baratheon.Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Member of the King's Small Council.Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the King's Small Council, and childhood friend to Cat.Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Member of the King's Small Council.Robb Stark - Eldest son of Ned and Cat.Catelyn Stark - Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully.Hoster Tully - Lord of Riverrun. Father to Cat, Edmure Tully, and Lysa. Old and in poor health.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Arya's dancing lesson with Syrio Forel is rudely interrupted by a Kingsguard and five Lannister men, come to take her to her father. Syrio didn't become the First Sword of Braavos by buying this kind of dead dog. He buys Arya time to scarper, and the boys break it down for you. Chapter Review: Arya and Syrio are fighting, with Syrio telling Arya where to parry, until he lies and scores a hit. She moans, and he points out that she should be watching not listening. Ser Meryn Trant and five Lannisters arrive. Syrio refuses to yield Arya to them and tells her to run. Instead, she sits mouth-gaping as Forel defeats all five using just his wooden sword. But Trant is a different matter, and Syrio insists that she departs, as Ser Meryn lops off the end of Forel's sword. Arya runs. She finds Needle, kills an interfering stable boy, figures that there is no hope of escape through the city gates, so heads down into the tunnels and dungeons she's visited previously. She's scared but recalls being spooked in the Winterfell crypts by her big brothers and suddenly doesn't feel so bad. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Queen Cersei Lannister - Widow of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister, mother of "King" Joffrey Baratheon. Arya Stark - Youngest daughter of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark.Ser Meryn Trant - Member of the Kingsguard. Syrio Forel - Former First Sword of Braavos. Fencing instructor to Arya Stark. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Sansa Stark - Eldest daughter of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Betrothed to King Joffrey Baratheon. Brandon (Bran) Stark -  Middle son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. He was pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister and lost the use of his legs.Rickon Stark - Youngest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. At Winterfell.Hullen - Master of Horse at Winterfell. Killed by Lannisters in King's Landing.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

The King is dead. Long live King Joffrey? King Stannis? King Renly? Whoever! Ned and Cersei confront in the throne room. Ned is sure he has the manpower advantage to win the day, but then Petyr Baelish delivers a lasting lesson in the school of "Don't trust anyone." Mackelly and Simon take sides.Chapter Review: Eddard Stark is awoken to a Lannister show of strength outside his window, and the day only goes downhill from there. At breakfast, he allows Arya to have one last "dance lesson" but refuses Sansa a final goodbye with prince Joffrey, before the girls board the ship headed for Winterfell. The news causes an outraged Sansa to storm off.The day's downward spiral continues when Grand Maester Pycelle arrives and announces that King Robert has died. A heavy-hearted Ned convenes the small council (apart from Renly, who having carefully weighed up the situation has scarpered from King's Landing) and has Barristan Selmy break the seal on Robert's will. As we know, Ned is supposed to act as Protector of the Realm until Robert's heir comes of age. Before Ned can obtain oaths of allegiance, the council is summoned to the presence of the new king. Ned's helped to the throne room by Littlefinger who assures him that the gold cloaks are on the payroll. Joffrey demands a rapid coronation. Cersei tears up Robert's will and demands that Ned bend the knee. Instead, he reveals that Cersei's children are not Robert's and that the gold cloaks should escort the royal family to their rooms. The city guard do exactly what they've been paid to do, and kill all of Ned's men. Ned himself is taken into custody by Littlefinger himself. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Oh and now he's dead.  Renly Baratheon - King Robert's youngest brother. Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully.  Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Jon receives great news that Sam will indeed be joining him in taking his Night's Watch vows. Less joyful that Jon doesn't get the job he wants or expects. The boys take their vows while Ghost plays a macabre game of fetch. Mackelly and Simon, whose watch began 49 episodes ago, thank the latest watchers on the wall. Chapter Review: Somehow Jon beats Sam to breakfast, but maybe Sam was weighed down by news that he'll be taking Chett's place as steward to Maester Aemon. Jon is understandably pleased with himself. They hurry to the sept where the Night's Watch bigwigs are gathered to welcome their newest brothers. Mormont assigns each of them to a role. Everyone goes pretty much where you'd expect, apart from Jon who is mystifyingly assigned to the Stewards as Mormont's attendant. Jon gets mad. His friends point out that he is being groomed for leadership and he should stop his moaning. Jon and recently converted Samwell say their vows before the Old Gods in a weirwood north of the wall. They are welcomed to the brotherhood by a few crows who accompanied them, but the reverie comes to an abrupt galt when Ghost trots into the circle carrying an unidentified human hand. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Recently sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Samwell Tarly - Brother of the Night's Watch. Heavy-set and cowardly. Attendant to Maester Aemon. Friend to Jon Snow. Ser Jeor Mormont - Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Ser Alliser Thorne - Master of Arms for the Night's Watch. Mean-spirited instructor of the new recruits. Not a fan of Jon Snow. Maester Aemon - 100 year-old maester of the Night's Watch. Ghost - Jon Snow's direwolf. Castle Black - Headquarters of the Night's Watch at the Wall. The Wall - Really big wall separating the Seven Kingdoms from the wild north of the continent. Seven hundred feet tall and stretching from coast to coast. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

King Robert has been mortally wounded by a boar. Ned's plan to tell him that his children were cuckoos turns to ashes in his mouth. Cersei, Renly, Varys, Petry Baelish - all start scheming for the next round of the Game of Thrones. Is Ned morally nimble enough to keep up? Mac and Simon mourn the fallen king and consider every angle of the implications. Chapter Review: Thanks to a surfeit of wine from his loyal squire Lancel Lannister, King Robert gets gored by a boar and the two-day journey back to King's Landing has allowed the wound to mortify. There is nothing Pycelle can do. Ned transcribes the King's last will and testament, with a slight edit, for the good of the realm. Cersei departs to...who knows? Selmy blames himself. Varys blames Lancel. Renly suggests to Ned that they take Joffrey into custody to ensure adherence to the terms of Ned's will: namely that Ned act as regent and projector of the realm until Joffrey comes of age. Ned writes to Stannis congratulating him on becoming king. Littlefinger paints a grim picture of the realm under Stannis, who doesn't command the love that Robert did nor demonstrates the level of forgiveness and flexibility that a king will need. Ned is set on his path. Baelish agrees to help but he'll need money to pay off the gold cloaks. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend.King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Queen Cersei Lannister - Wife of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister.  Stannis Baratheon - Older younger brother of King Robert and Lord of Dragonstone. Renly Baratheon - King Robert's youngest brother. Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Fellow member of the king's Small Council. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Daenerys and Khal Drogo go for their second trimester gender-reveal with the Dosh Khaleen. A snack of raw horse's heart, sex in public, and a celebratory feast  - all in a typical day for a hard-working Khaleesi. The portents are what the happy couple were looking for: a boy, strong, healthy, oh, and the long-prophesied Khal who will bring all the people of the world into one great Khalasar...so that'll be nice. Mac and Simon pay homage. Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen visits the Dosh Khaleen and manages to chow down an entire raw horse's heart. That is the ultimate test, and elicits a positive reaction from the old crones. The unborn child will be the Stallion who Mounts the World. Prophecy said that he'd arrive eventually to unite all people into one giant Khalasar (but then, who would they plunder from?) After a bath and a bit of hanky-panky, a feast is thrown. It's all fun and games until Dany's brother Viserys arrives and really rains on the whole parade. He's drunk and feels that he's owed the Iron Throne. Viserys gets belligerent. Threatens to cut Dany' baby out there and then. Khal Drogo relents. Viserys will have his golden crown. The bloodriders hold him down as Dany watches on, while Drogo dumps molten gold on her brother's head. Dany observes that he cannot have been a true dragon, because fire wouldn't have killed him. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Khal Drogo - Lord of a giant Dothraki Khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, wife to Khal Drogo, and younger sister to Viserys. Viserys Targaryen - Deposed heir to the Iron Throne. Older brother to Daenerys. Jorah Mormont - Exiled former lord of Bear Island. Advisor to Daenerys Targryen. Spying on the Targaryens for Ser Varys. Rhaegar Targaryen - Crown prince to Aerys Targaryen. Killed by Robert Baratheon during the Battle at the Trident. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Eddard Stark is now in possession of the biggest secret in King's Landing. News so immense it could destroy the very kingdom. But the king is off hunting and Ned has few friends with whom to share the news. What to do? Personally we wouldn't have advised confiding in Cersei Bloomin' Lannister, but then again we're morally flexible soft southern children of summer. From their respective castles, Mac and Simon analyze the latest happenings and weigh up the latest battle between Ned's honor and common sense. Chapter Review: Ned entertains some of his Small Council cohorts - Grand Maester Pycelle and Petyr LittleFinger Baelish. Apparently, Tywin Lannister doesn't appreciate having his bannerman, Ser Gregor Clegane brought to heel. Ned's past caring about Tywin. But he does still care about Cersei's children. They parley in the infrequently- used King's Landing Godswood. It goes about as well as might be expected. She admits to everything (even providing the identity of the father), but she does not admit to Jon Arryn's murder. Cersei tries to use her feminine wiles - but come on - this is Lord Eddard Stark. Ned advises her to gather her children and flee... far. Robert's wrath will follow her as far as she could possibly run. Cersei tells Ned he missed the chance to seize the throne for himself. And follows up with, "In the Game of Thrones you win, or you die."  Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Grand Maester Pycelle - Elderly grand maester of the Seven Kingdoms. Fellow member of the king's Small Council. Queen Cersei Lannister - Wife of King Robert Baratheon, twin sister of Ser Jamie Lannister. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Tywin Lannister - Lord of Casterly Rock. Father of Jamie, Cersei, and Tyrion Lannister. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Sansa gets into a squabble with Arya which ends with an orange to the face (and to the lap of a silk dress). The sisters are summoned before their father who tells them that he's sending them back to Winterfell for their safety. Sansa is horrified - she wants to stay and marry Joffrey who she insists is nothing like his father. Ned suddenly sees the light. Simon and Mac do too, and they're not afraid to share it with you. Chapter Review: Sansa describes her day at court to Jeyne Poole, critiquing her father's decision not to send Ser Loras Tyrell to defeat the Mountain. Septa Mordane disapproved of Sansa's second guessing, but Petyr Baelish reckons that Ned's decisions could do with a bit of scrutiny. At breakfast, Arya and Sansa fight and end up sent to their rooms. Thereafter, they are summoned to their father's chambers where he announces his intent to send them home. King's Landing is no longer safe.  Sansa wants to stay and mother princes and princesses as brave as wolves and proud as lions with her beloved Joffrey. Arya points out that he's a Baratheon stag. Sansa flares up, insisting that he is nothing like his drunken, fat father. Ned is dumbfounded. Joffrey really is nothing like Robert. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon, heir to the Iron Throne. Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully. Jayne Poole - Sansa's best friend. Septa Mordane - Stark girls' tutor in the arts of becoming noblewomen. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Ned gets a turn on the Iron Throne while King Robert is off hunting. His leg hurts and so do the various bits of him getting poked by the chair - curse you Robert, and you Aegon the Conqueror. His comfort is hardly enhanced by news from the Riverlands of murder and pillage by Lannister-men. Simon and Mackelly consider every implication. Chapter Review:Eddard Stark is in charge and sits the Iron Throne. He's not thrilled by either the responsibility, (Robert is off hunting) nor the ergonomics. While Sansa watches on, he is confronted with news of atrocities in the Riverlands. Un-sigiled brigands have sacked three towns, killing and raping - but not stealing. The only clue as to their identity - one of them is as big as a mountain. Against Grand Maester Pycelle's objections, Ned strips Ser Gregor Clegane of his titles, lands, and life and dispatches a sizable contingent under the King's banner to carry out the justice. He gives the lead of this mission to Ser Beric Dondarrion. In so doing, he slights Ser Loras Tyrell and Ser Ilyn Payne (the King's executioner). Lord Varys suggests that this might not have been the best strategic decision. But we note that Ned carefully picked only men loyal to either House Stark or House Barratheon. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Lord Varys - Master of Spies for King Robert. Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain who Rides. Lannister loyalist. Murderer of Rhaegar Targaryen's children. Lord Beric Dondarrion - The Lightning Lord of Blackhaven. Tasked by Ned to bring down the King's justice on Gregor Clegane.  Edmure Tully - Heir to Riverrun. Seemingly in charge of defenses, while his father Hoster Tully recuperates from illness. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Tyrion and Bronn find themselves in a tough spot. Stuck on the High Road with nothing between them and the dangerous mountain clans. But, like always, Tyrion has a plan. It's no doubt a gamble and their lives are the stakes. Simon and Mac discuss the ins and outs of Tyrion's gambles thus far, contemplate missed opportunities, and conjecture about Tyrion's retribution plans for Lysa Arryn. Chapter Review: Bronn might have won Tyrion Lannister his freedom in the trial by combat but they're both far from safe. Now they're stuck on the High Road with no protection but Bronn's sword and Tyrion's mouth. It's the latter that Tyrion plans on using to save them. While they rest, Tyrion tells Bronn of the logic behind his gamble with the trial by combat. He also knows that Bronn will sell him out, like he did to Cat, as soon as the right offer is made. Tyrion tells Bronn that he was once married. However, when Tyrion's father Tywin found out, things did not end well. Eventually, the mountain clansmen find them but before they can kill Bronn and take Tyrion captive, he makes them an offer they can't refuse. All the steel weapons they want from his lord father, and on top of that the Vale of Arryn. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister.Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.Bronn - A sellword who has come along with Tyrion and Cat, since Cat took Tyrion hostage at the Inn at the Crossroads. Cat thinks of him as a very dangerous fighter but with no kindness.The Vale - Rocky eastern lands of Westeros. Home of House Arryn. The primary seat of power is the Eyrie.Eyrie - The seat of power of the Arryns. It is located high on a mountain known as the Giant's Lance.Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

It's a big day for Jon and some of his friends at the Wall. There's just one major problem and it involves Sam. After some time pondering other possibilities for his life, Jon gets an idea in his head to fix Sam's problem. Simon and Mac step you through the chapter and share ideas and insights as they go. Chapter Review: Jon and some of his fellow Night's Watch recruits are graduating from training under Ser Alliser Throne. As the boys whoop it up, Sam is all but excited. He's being left in the care of Ser Alliser, without his friends to protect him. That's a recipe for disaster.Jon, worried about Sam, take a ride down the Kingsroad with Ghost to clear his head. While out, he realizes that he could just keep going and be back in Winterfell in no time. Instead, he turns back to Castle Black to pay a visit to maester Aemon.After cajoling his way past maester Aemon's steward, he explains to Aemon that if he doesn't intervene and have Sam pulled from training, Sam will surely be killed. The wise maester promises to take the matter under consideration. Charactes/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard Son of Lord Ned Stark. Recruit to the Night's Watch. Samwell Tarly - New recruit of the Night's Watch. Son of Lord Randyll Tarly. Pyp - Recruit of the Night's Watch. Small and talented at imitations and voices. Grenn - Recruit of the Night's Watch. Big, slow, and not very bright. Maester Aemon - The ancient maester of the Night's Watch. Ser Alliser Throne - Master-at-arms of the Night's Watch. Mean, bitter, and humorless. Randyll Tarly - Sam's father. Lord of Horn Hill. Bannerman to Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. The Citadel - The institution for learning for maesters in Westeros.Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Bronn and Ser Vardis are ready to rumble, and Tyrion's fate hangs in the balance. The pair take very different approaches to preparing for the duel. Ser Vardis loads himself down with armor like a tank, while Bronn prefers to stay quick and agile. Which method will win out? The guys will tell you all about that and so many other happenings in the chapter. Chapter Review: Catelyn Stark gets word that Jamie Lannister is amassing troops at Casterly Rock and that her brother Edmure is doing the same along the border between the Westerlands and the Riverlands. After lamenting over her sister's erratic behavior, she decides that it's time she gets back to Winterfell. On her way to the big duel between Bronn and Ser Vardis Egen, Cat runs into her uncle Brynden Tully. He's just quit as the Knight of the Gate, because Cat's sister Lysa has refused his request for 1,000 knights to take to Riverrun, to aid House Tully in the event of a Lannister attack. Cat offers him the swords, if he comes with her to Winterfell. Cat then joins Lysa to watch the duel between, to determine Tyrion's fate. When the battle begins, it is obvious that the younger, faster Bronn plans to avoid Ser Vardis' sword attacks and allow the older man to tire himself, as he's laden with heavy plate armor. Tune in to find out who emerges as the victor. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Brynden Blackfish Tully - Cat and Lysa's uncle. Younger brother to their father Lord Hoster Tully. He now serves Lysa as Knight of the Gate. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Aging knight who has accompanied Cat on her journey to King's Landing. Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale. Ser Vardis Egen - Captain of the Arryn household guard. Bronn - Sellsword who has traveled with Cat and Tyrion since the Inn at the Crossroads.  Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Ned dreams of fighting to rescue his sister Lyanna. He wakes to find that the king and queen are waiting speak with him. Queen Cersei spins a yarn, Ned creates an awkward scene, and the royal couple squabbles leading to violence. Finally, Ned gets his old job back, whether he wants it or not. Chapter Review: Eddard Stark and six of his companions stand off against three members of the royal kingsguard. He wakes in the Tower of the Hand, a week after the fight with Jamie Lannister's men. The king and queen soon arrive and queen Cersei starts right in on Ned as the instigator of the fight. Robert commands that Cat Stark release Tyrion Lannister immediately and that Ned make up with Jamie. Ned tells Robert that he was coming from seeing Robert's baby daughter at a brothel. The king and queen begin an argument that ends with Robert hitting Cersei in the face, knocking her to the ground. The chapter ends with Robert tossing the Hand of the King pin to Ned and commanding that he take his old job back. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men.Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Cersei Lannister - Queen of Westeros. The twin sister of Jamie Lannister and older sister to Tyrion Lannister. Jamie Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Jory Cassel - Captain of the Stark household guard. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Lyanna Stark - Younger sister of Ned Stark. Once betrothed to Robert Baratheon. Kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen. She died near the end of Robert's Rebellion. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Tyrion is having trouble getting comfortable in his new room in the Eyrie. Mostly it's the lack of a fourth wall, the 600-foot drop just feet away from him, and the rough treatment from the jailer. He takes a big gamble on plan to get himself out, but at least the first part pays off when Bronn volunteers to champion him in a trial by combat.Chapter Review:Tyrion's sarcasm and threats to Lysa Arryn have landed him in a sky cell of the Eyrie. As the days drag on, he's starting to wonder if they're planning on letting him die down there. We learn that Lysa has added the accusation that Tyrion killed Jon Arryn to that of Cat's accusation that he tried to have Bran killed. With nothing but time to think, he wonders if his siblings were actually involved in either the plot to kill Bran or the death of Jon Arryn. He also thinks that possibly a third party could have been involved, as the plots were so very different in sophistication.When Tyrion realizes he can't last much longer in his cell, due to the cruel treatment from his jailer, he bribes the jailer to tell Lysa he's ready to confess his sins. During his audience with Lysa, Cat, and many of the lords of the Vale, it becomes clear his decision to confess was just a ruse to get in front of a large audience. He requests a trial by combat. For a long minute he thinks he's mad a terrible mistake, until Bronn steps forward to be his champion.  Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister.Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.Bronn - A sellword who has come along with Tyrion and Cat, since Cat took Tyrion hostage at the Inn at the Crossroads. Cat thinks of him as a very dangerous fighter but with no kindness.Ser Vardis Egen - The captain of the household guard of House Arryn.Marillion - Singer who was making his way to King's Landing for the Hand's Tourney before meeting Cat.Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Bran, Robb, and some other Winterfell men take Bran's new saddle and horse out for a test drive. Things are clicking on all cylinders until a band of wildings and deserters from the Night's Watch show up. Things escalate quickly, resulting in bloody carnage and a wildling hostage. Simon explains how he recently found a similar scene on his back porch. Chapter Review: Bran Stark, his brother Robb, Theon Greyjoy, the wolves, and some other Winterfell men accompany Bran out of Winterfell for Bran's first ride in his new saddle. Robb and Bran race ahead. Bran is all smiles and excitement until Robb tells him of their father's troubles in King's Landing with Jamie Lannister. Bran wants to go home but they decide to find the wolves first. While looking for them, a group of wildlings and deserters from the Night's Watch find Bran alone and attempt to rob him. Robb returns and he and the wolves bring a bloody end to all but two of the raiders. When Theon puts an arrow through the man who was holding Bran at knife-point, the fighting ends. Robb decides to take the remaining wildling woman hostage. Charactes/Places/Names/Events:Brandon (Bran) Stark -  Middle son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. He was pushed from a tower by Jamie Lannister and lost the use of his legs. Robb Stark - Eldest son of Eddard (Ned) and Catelyn (Cat) Stark. Current Stark in Winterfell. Theon Greyjoy - Ward and hostage of Eddard Stark. Only surviving son of Balon Greyjoy, and heir to the Iron Islands. Maester Luwin - A maester in the service of house Stark at Winterfell. Grey Wind - The direwolf of Robb Stark. Summer - The direwolf of Bran Stark. Wildlings - The free folk who live north of the Wall. Night's Watch - The men who guard the Seven Kingdoms from threats from beyond the Wall. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Daenerys and the khalasar have made it to Vaes Dothrak. Daeny plans a night evening with her brother that goes very awry. We also get Jorah's take on how the Dothraki would do in battle in Westeros. We tell you all about it and give you as many insights as we can pack into one episode. Plus, Simon shares a story that might just put a smile on your face. Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen, her brother Viserys, Ser Jorah Mormont, and the rest of Khal Drogo's khalasar have finally made it to Vaes Dothrak, the lone Dothraki city. Daeny is surprised to see how big, but sparse, the city is. We learn that Viserys is about out of patience waiting for his promised 10,000 Dothraki warriors that he was promised for Daeny's hand in marriage. We also find out that Ser Jorah seems to have no respect left for his supposed king. Jorah tells Daeny that the Dothraki have the advantage against a Westerosi army in the field, but would not be able to sustain a siege.The question is whether Robert would be smart enough to utilize the advantage of the castles, or if he would rush to meet the Dothraki in battle. When Daeny is told Khal Drogo will be away their first evening in the city, she plans a nice dinner with her brother, where she plans to present him gifts of traditional Dothraki clothing. Things go wrong when Viserys thinks Daeny has commanded him to her, and get worse when he sees her gifts. A heated sibling dispute ensues, leaving Daeny sad and bruised and Viserys furious and bleeding from his face. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar and younger sister to Viserys. Viserys Targaryen - Deposed heir to the Iron Throne. Ser Jorah Mormont - Exiled knight from Westeros. Sworn sword to Viserys Targaryen. Khal Drogo - The leader of a large Dothraki khalasar. Husband to Daenerys Targaryen. Cohollo - Bloodrider to Khal Drogo. Irri, Jiqui, and Doreah - Daeny's handmaidens. Bloodrider - Sworn protectors of Dothraki khals. Dothraki Sea - Vaes Dothrak is the only city of the Dothraki people. It is located in the northeast of the vast Dothraki sea. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Eddard Stark has found the brothel he'd been looking for. He also found a fight he wasn't looking for. Both deliver surprising results. We comb through the facts and details to make sure you know what's happening, why, and the possible repercussions. Chapter Review: We find Ned, some of his household guard, and Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish visiting the brothel Jon Arryn and Stannis Baratheon had visited prior to Jon's death. Ned has discovered that King Robert has a base-born child to one of the women of the brothel. The child is a girl named Barra who looks just like Robert. After promising Barra's mother that the girl will want for nothing, Ned and the guys head back to the Red Keep. On the way, Ned reminisces about promises he made his sister Lyanna and sees his bastard son Jon's face in the rain.While Ned and Littlefinger are discussing why Jon Arryn was visiting King Robert's bastards, the street becomes flooded with Lannister men. Jamie Lannister tells Ned he's looking for his brother Tyrion, who Catelyn Stark has taken captive. Ned tells Jamie that Tyrion was taken on his orders, to answer for his crimes. Jamie lets Littlefinger leave and then threatens to kill Ned, but Ned says if he does Cat will kill Tyrion. Before Jamie rides off, he tells his men not to touch Ned, but to kill his men. In the fighting, all of Ned's men are killed and Ned suffers a badly broken leg. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully. Jamie Lannister - Member of the royal Kingsguard. Twin brother to queen Cersei and older brother to Tyrion. Nicknamed the "Kingslayer" for killing King Aerys Targaryen. Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Jory Cassel - Captain of the Stark household guard. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Aside from being king, he's also Ned's lifelong best friend. Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Catelyn Stark and her entourage finally arrive, battered and beaten, at the Vale. Cat meets some family. One is a positive reunion. The other not so much. We tell you all about it, give you some insights, and ponder if Rickon might be better suited to look after Robert than Lysa. Chapter Review: Cat and her travel companions make their way through the Vale, from the Bloody Gate to the Gates of the Moon, and then Cat goes sky high to reach the Eyrie. She's accompanied along the way by her uncle Brynden Blackfish Tully. She tells Brynden about everything that has happened since Bran's fall. Brynden tells Cat that the Vale is angry and that her sister Lysa isn't the same girl Cat knew. He also worries that Cat has done the one thing Lysa doesn't want: bring the Lannisters to the Vale.When the party reaches the Gates of the Moon, Cat is summoned to go the remaining way to the Eyrie alone. When she finally reaches the castle, her sister Lysa seems so happy to see her, that is until the two are alone. As Brynden surmised, Lysa is angry that Cat brought Tyrion here, possibly dragging them into a war with the Lannisters. Cat meets her nephew, little Robert Arryn, who is small, sickly, and surprisingly attached to his mother. As Cat and Lysa argue, Robert asks about making Tyrion fly. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.Brynden Blackfish Tully - Cat and Lysa's uncle. Younger brother to their father Lord Hoster Tully. He now serves Lysa as Knight of the Gate.Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister.Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Aging knight who has accompanied Cat on her journey to King's Landing.Marillion - Singer who was making his way to King's Landing for the Hand's Tourney before meeting Cat.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.Nestor Royce -  Keeper of the Gates of the Moon. He has been High Steward of the Vale for the fourteen years, prior to Lord Jon Arryn's death.Support the podcast. Buy some merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server!We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Ned and Robert go toe-to-toe over how to handle Dany's pregnancy. When all is said and done, king Robert needs a new Hand of the King, and Ned is headed back to Winterfell. We sit in on the Small Council meeting, tell you what happened, why, and make conjectures about the consequences. Chapter Review: King Robert is in attendance at the Small Council meeting. He has learned that Daenerys Targaryen is pregnant and says now is the time to extinguish the Targaryen flame for good. Ned says it's nothing short of murder to kill a 14-year-old girl and her unborn child. Increasingly heated words are exchanged between the two until king Robert can take no more. He puts it to a vote of the Small Council and wins 4-1. Ned refuses to order the assassination and resigns as Hand of the King. A furious king Robert tells him to get out before his head ends up on a spike. Back at the Tower of the Hand, Ned has mixed feelings about leaving. He's excited to get back to Winterfell but worried about the realm being left in the hands of king Robert and the other members of the Small Council. He also feels remorseful that he hadn't gotten to the bottom of Jon Arryn's murder. While he's planning his departure, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish shows up and offers to take him to the brothel that Ned and his men have been looking for. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend. King Robert Baratheon - King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Protector of the realm. Lord Varys - Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, childhood friend to Cat Stark. Renly Baratheon - King Robert's youngest brother. Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws. Ser Barriston Selmy - Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar, younger sister to Viserys. Viserys Targaryen - Deposed heir to the Iron Throne.  Khal Drogo - Leader of a Dothraki khalasar, husband to Daeny Targaryen. Stannis Baratheon - Older younger brother of King Robert, Lord of Dragonstone. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Arya manages to get herself lost in the dungeons of the Red Keep. But in the process, she finds information that would be invaluable to her father. Unfortunately, when she tries to tell Ned what she's learned, she makes a mess of it all. Thankfully, we're here to put the pieces together and weave a more complete story from the details. Chapter Review: Arya Stark is catching cats. While in the process, she is stumbled upon by princess Myrcella, prince Tommen, and their entourage. When the gold cloaks in her group try to apprehend her, Arya runs. By the time she stops, she's managed to get herself lost deep in the dungeons under the Red Keep. She first runs into three giant dragon skulls, before coming across two men talking while walking through the dungeons. The pair is Lord Varys and Illyrio Mopatis. They are discussing her father Ned getting dangerously close to discovering a secret. There is also mention of having killed one Hand of the King, so why not kill another? Along with that, there is talk of a plot that sounds a lot like it involves getting a Targaryen back on the Iron Throne. When Arya gets back to the Tower of the Hand, she tries to tell Ned what she knows, but it sounds more like the fantasy talk of a child than anything else. Yoren from the Night's Watch arrives to talk with Ned, and Arya is sent to bed worrying about her father's safety. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Lord Varys - Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Illyrio Mopatis - Wealthy magister from the Free City of Pentos. Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, king Robert's closest friend. Gendry - King Robert Baratheon's bastard son and apprentice blacksmith. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council. Daenerys Targaryen - Khaleesi to a Dothraki khalasar and younger sister to Viserys. Viserys Targaryen - Deposed heir to the Iron Throne. Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review. Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQSend us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Cat and her rag-tag group make their way to the Eyrie on the dangerous High road, with her captive Tyrion. Along the way, they're attacked by a mountain clan, Tyrion pleads his innocence to Cat, and he makes progress in his situation as captive. We go along for the ride and give you our thoughts and ideas. Simon also shows how sometimes one can be just a tad too cute with a turn of phrase for one's own good. Chapter Review:Tyrion Lannister realizes he's not on his way to Winterfell, like he thought. Instead he's on his way to the Eyrie. This puts a major crimp in his plans, as any help he's hoping for is heading up the Kingsroad not the High road. He finally gets a chance to talk with Catelyn Stark about her accusations of his involvement in the plot to kill Bran. He insists he's too smart to arm a hired murder with his own weapon, and that the weapon isn't his anyway. She's hit with momentary doubt but all thoughts of the issue are pushed away when a group of men from a mountain clan attack them. They fight off the men, but lose three of their own in the process. Tyrion tells Cat that Petyr's story has a flaw. Tyrion would never bet against his family. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister.Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell.Marillion - Singer who was making his way to King's Landing for the Hand's Tourney before meeting Cat.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.Walder Frey - Ninety-year-old lord of the Crossings. He's known for his large brood of children and grandchildren.The Vale - Rocky eastern lands of Westeros. Home of House Arryn. The primary seat of power is the Eyrie.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM!: https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER!: https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Ned has a busy, but for the most part pleasant, day. King Robert is acting like his old self, queen Cersei is nowhere to be seen, he spends time at the tourney with Sansa, and his girls are getting along at dinner. However, when Lord Varys shows up to his chambers, he brings tidings that cause an abrupt end to any pleasantness. Chapter Review: Eddard "Ned" Stark and Ser Barriston Selmy look over the body of Ser Hugh of the Vale, the newly made knight and former squire to Jon Arryn, killed the day before by Ser Gregor Clegane. Ned had been planning to talk to Hugh about Jon Arryn's death. Later, Ned and Ser Barriston explain to Robert that nobody will dare risk hurting him in the melee, so he will win but it won't be a fair fight. Robert begrudgingly accepts the fact and agrees not to enter.  During the tourney, Ser Gregor Clegane is unhorsed by Ser Loras Tyrell. In his anger, Gergor kills his horse and then attacks Loras. However, his brother Sandor Clegane (AKA The Hound) jumps in and saves Loras. The brothers duel until the king commands they stop. A grateful Loras concedes the final match to The Hound.  That night a stranger visits Ned's chambers. It turns out to be Lord Varys in disguise. Varys tells Ned of a plan to see Robert killed during the melee, and that queen Cersei forbade Robert from entering loudly and publicly so that Robert would surely enter the competition. He also says that it was Ser Hugh who poisoned Jon Arryn. When Ned asks Varys why Jon Arryn was killed, his answer is that Jon was asking questions. Charactes/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and king Robert's closest friend.Ser Barriston Selmy - Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Older but still deadly with a sword or a lance.King Robert Baratheon - Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Married to queen Cersei Lannister.Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon.Renly Baratheon - King Robert's youngest brother. Lord of Storm's End and Master of Laws. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully.Ser Loras Tyrell - Young, dashing, talented knight from the Reach.Sandor Clegane - The Hound. Prince Joffrey's personal protector.Ser Gregor Clegane - The Mountain that Rides. Sandor Clegane's older brother. Bannerman to Tywin Lannister. Lord Varys - The Spider. Eunuch and Master of Whispers. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden:INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Sansa is having a magical day filled first with jousting followed by feasting with her betrothed Joffrey. It isn't until she is escorted home by the Hound that things go sour, starting with an odd revelation and ending in a death threat. We take you step-by-step through her day at the Hand's Tourney. Chapter Review: Sansa Stark is enchanted by the spectacle of the tourney in honor of her father. She and her friend Jeyne Poole sit with the high lords and ladies to watch the jousting tilts. She sees all of the realm's greatest knights go head-to-head. The only blemish on the magic of the event is when a young knight is killed by Gregor Clegane's lance. Later, Joffrey Baratheon, her betrothed, sits with her at the feast and is charming and sweet. The party breaks up when the drunken king Robert begins shouting at queen Cersei. Joffrey has his Hound Sandor Clegane escort Sansa back to the Tower of the Hand. On their way, the Hound explains the role his older brother Gregor played in his horribly burned face. He then says that if she tells anyone the story, he will kill her. Charactes/Places/Names/Events: Sansa Stark - Oldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, the Hand of the King, and Catelyn Tully. Betrothed to Joffrey Baratheon.Jayne Poole - Sansa's best friend.Septa Mordane - Stark girls' tutor in the arts of becoming noblewomen. Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Master of Coin, member of the Small Council, and childhood friend to Catelyn Tully.Ser Loras Tyrell - Young, dashing, talented knight from the Reach.Joffrey Baratheon - Crown prince of Westeros. Betrothed to Sansa Stark.Sandor Clegane - The Hound. Prince Joffrey's personal protector.Ser Gregor Clegane - Sandor Clegane's older brother. Bannerman to Tywin Lannister. Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25M Support the show

Cat and Ser Rodrik are resting their weary bones at the Inn at the Crossroads, when in walks Tyrion Lannister. Cat goes from insisting they not let war breakout in the realm to possibly firing the first shot, when she takes Tyrion captive. We talk about why she did it and what it means, along with covering other topics of interest in the chapter. Chapter Review:While Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik Cassel make their way from King's Landing back to Winterfell, they stop off at the Inn at the Crossroads for a hot meal and to get out of the rain. While eating, they meet Marillion, a singer making his way to King's Landing. As the group chats, in walks Tyrion Lannister and his travel companions. When he recognizes her, Cat makes a snap decision. She stands, reveals her identity, then asks the men in the room who owe fealty to her father to arrest Tyrion and help her transport him to Winterfell to await justice in the attempt to murder Bran. Now the game is truly underway. Charactes/Places/Names/Events:Catelyn Stark - Lady of Wintefell. Wife of Lord Eddard Stark and daughter of Hoster Tully, the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands.Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister.Ser Rodrik Cassel - Master-at-arms of Winterfell. Aging knight who has accompanied Cat on her journey to King's Landing.Marillion - Singer making his way to King's Landing for the Hand's Tourney.Lysa Arryn - Cat's younger sister. Widow of Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon and Lord of the Vale.The Vale - Rocky eastern lands of Westeros. Home of House Arryn. The primary seat of power is the Eyrie.Riverrun - Ancestral home of House Tully, and Cat's childhood home. Inn at the Crossroads - An inn that lies at the crossroads between the Kingsroad, the River road, and the High road.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show

Ned has received info from the remaining Arryn household staff about Jon Arryn's final days. Following one tip leads to a shocking discovery, in the shape of a young blacksmith's apprentice who looks an awful lot like a certain king. However, we don't stop there. We comb through all of the information he's gotten and consider ways that the dots might connect. Chapter Review: During a Small Council meeting, Eddard Stark hears that the Gold Cloaks, the city watch, are woefully understaffed for keeping the peace, due to the the influx of people in town for the Hand's tourney. Ned OKs hiring more men and provides 20 of his own guard. Back in his chambers, he peruses  the book Jon Arryn had looked at the day before his illness began, but Ned can't find anything useful in it.Jory Cassel has tracked down all of the people left in the city connected to Jon Arryn. Most of the information consists of rumors but Stannis Baratheon, the king's brother, keeps coming up in connection with Jon. Ned follows one of the leads to an armorer who Jon supposedly commissioned to make a suit of fancy armor. It turns out that Jon did not actually hire the man to make anything. He came to see a boy. When Ned sees the boy, he realizes that he is clearly a son of King Robert. The chapter ends with Ned wondering why Jon Arryn was visiting a bastard of Robert's, and why it was worth his life. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Eddard "Ned" Stark - Hand of the King, Lord of Winterfell, and lifelong friend of King Robert Baratheon.Jon Arryn - Former Hand of the King to Robert and foster father to Ned and Robert. Died suddenly and mysteriously.Renly Baratheon - Youngest brother of King Robert and Lord of Storm's End.Stannis Baratheon  - Older younger brother of King Robert and Lord of Dragonstone.Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish - Member of the Small Council and Master of Coin. Childhood friend of Catelyn Stark.Gendry - Bastard son of King Robert.Dragonstone - Island castle, usually given to the heir to the Iron Throne.Siege of Storm's End - Siege during Robert's Rebellion, where Stannis and Renly Baratheon were stuck inside their castle and nearly starved to death.Support the podcast. Buy a bit of merch from our store. Or if swag is not your bag, buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold.If you like what we're doing, please consider rating and reviewing us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and anywhere else you can leave a rate and review.Join the discussion on our Discord server! https://discord.com/invite/FTy7BExyBQWe'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at ghosts.harrenhal@gmail.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @GhostsHarrenhal, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.All Music credits to Ross Bugden INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden) TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden) YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kthxycmF25MSupport the show