Ask Me Anything About ASOIAF

[Slave]

I've read, studied, and discussed these books since 1996. This series is probably the best thing ever written by a human being. Ask me anything about it and I will explain the underlying motivations and plot devices that are occurring behind the scenes. Who, what, where, when, why, how!

[Hasbinlulz]

-1

[Bodeanicus]

Why does Martin look like a fat Klingon?

[Slave]

Why does Martin look like a fat Klingon?

It is because he is jolly and wise. He carouses, he attends every fan event he can, he drinks and eats like King Robert. He may just die and leave us with the same kind of mess that Robert Jordan did (though Wheel of Time declined in quality very early on), but I heard he has outlined some major plot points for his possible successor.

[achtung]

Why are books 1-3 so amazing but books 4 and 5 a bunch of rambling nonsense about people named gakkkaz and sakkahz who I cannot bring myself to give a shit about?

[Slave]

Why are books 1-3 so amazing but books 4 and 5 a bunch of rambling nonsense about people named gakkkaz and sakkahz who I cannot bring myself to give a shit about?

I thought the same about ADwD until I read it for the second time. I was amazed at all I had missed; the novel covers a ton of ground and does it excellently. I believe it to be as superior a novel in its own right as Storm of Swords. It may even be my favorite of the series, though I think I've read the others 4 to 5 times each.

Skahaz the Shavepate is a very cool character, in my opinion. Daario is hilarious in his own way. And Barristan acquits himself awesomely. Daenerys was a young girl, after all, and she needed a real foundation in the experience of being a ruler. Now she can be even further transformed into the flawless sort of Queen that the Seven Kingdoms really needs. But Martin has a predilection for the kind of misdirection that delights and sickens. Is she really Azor Ahai? There is evidence for others to fulfill that role, including but not limited to Davos Seaworth (the Battle of the Blackwater) and Bran Stark (emerging from the catacombs after the Ironborn attack on Winterfell). Both are (re)born amidst salt and smoke. And is AA and The Prince Who Was Promised one and the same person in the prophecies?

Quentyn Martell is of Dorne, whose arms are the sun-and-spear. "When the sun rises in the West and sets in the East" is almost certainly speaking of him. Daenerys has a miscarriage, which can be seen as fulfilling another part of that prophecy. (Maegi Mirri Maz Duur). "When your womb quickens again." Conclusion: She will bear a living child...

[karsten]

why doesn't ASOIAF have HARD CODED TEAMS!?!?!?!




























yessssssssssssssssssssss

[Slave]

why doesn't ASOIAF have HARD CODED TEAMS!?!?!?!


I honestly believe that is what the Red God's server was missing and if only we'd had them to begin with, the population of worshippers there would still be active.

[SamwiseBanned]

What is ASOIAF and where do i download it?

[Kassel]

Did Eds sis get kidnapped or did she just fall in love. Indication seems to show both. Would change perceptions a bit if he did hunt down and kill his sisters lover instead of killing her attacker.

[Taresh]

would a custom ASOIAF red server be cool?

[godbox]

is the hound dead or is he on a vow of silence as a monk

[Droxx]

Why is it called ASOIAF instead of ASOFAI? ASOIAF sounds stupid.

[Slave]

is the hound dead or is he on a vow of silence as a monk

The Hound was seen at the monastery and he will likely be the Faith's champion against Ser Robert Strong (AKA Gregor Clegane, the Mountain, his brother) during Cersei's trial by arms.

[Slave]

Did Eds sis get kidnapped or did she just fall in love. Indication seems to show both. Would change perceptions a bit if he did hunt down and kill his sisters lover instead of killing her attacker.

Rhaegar met Lyanna at the Great Tournament of Harrenhal, where she posed as the mystery knight, The Knight of the Laughing Tree, in order to avenge Howland Reed's treatment at the hands of the dastardly squires. Rhaegar was sent by Aerys to retrieve the knight so he could be punished.

Rhaegar was so impressed by Lyanna and she by him, they immediately fell in love and began the great sequence of events that led to Robert's Rebellion.

ASOIAF is so interesting in that the primary motive events have all occurred in the past, and in fact one of the central characters to the story, Rhaegar, is already dead. We only hear about him through the points of view of others, and everyone but Robert seems to speak of him in tones of awe and admiration. It would have been extremely out of character and unlikely of him to have kidnapped Lyanna, a very capable warrior in her own right.

[Slave]

Why is it called ASOIAF instead of ASOFAI? ASOIAF sounds stupid.

I think even "A Song of" sounds stupid, and agree with you on the rest, as well. It may have something to do with him avoiding comparisons to Fire And Ice, Frank Frazetta's animated epic.

[Slave]

would a custom ASOIAF red server be cool?

I have an awesome ASOIAF mod for Mount and Blade Warband v1.143, and have been waiting patiently for one for Dominions 3.

[godbox]

The Hound was seen at the monastery and he will likely be the Faith's champion against Ser Robert Strong (AKA Gregor Clegane, the Mountain, his brother) during Cersei's trial by arms.

god i hope ur right I need to reread #5 so much happens I think I missed some stuff didnt rember the faith putting up a champion

[aresprophet]

I think even "A Song of" sounds stupid, and agree with you on the rest, as well. It may have something to do with him avoiding comparisons to Fire And Ice, Frank Frazetta's animated epic.

Martin, as with every other fantasy author of the last 50 years, owes a great debt to Tolkien. But unlike most of his contemporaries, GRRM actually gets what Tolkien was about. His series doesn't merely rip off elves and orcs, it shows a much more nuanced appreciation for the source. Tolkien borrowed heavily from Norse mythology, much of which pas passed down orally and was only written in medieval times after Christianity had had a go at it.

What Martin does is emphasize the difference between oral and written forms of language. Oral tradition plays an important role in the backstory of ASOIAF: the legend of Azor Ahai, the Horn of Winter, the Children of the Forest, even the Rains of Castamere. But you also have the primary form of communication being written, via ravens, under the control of the Maesters of Oldtown. The Maesters have their own agenda, as evinced in chapters in AFFC featuring Pate, Sam, and Marwyn. Oral histories may not be considered more reliable than rumor, but they predict the rise of the Others, the arrival of Dany (obliquely), and other things in less obvious ways (Jon's parentage is the most glaring omission).

So in a way Martin is giving a nod to oral traditions (like that of the medieval Norse peoples) while discounting early written histories. It's not a one-to-one comparison but there's enough there to make the series overarching title "A Song Of" seem like it means something. Songs were, for a very very long time, the primary means of passing down vital historical information between generations. The advent of writing in cultures accustomed to oral histories was not necessarily any more reliable, reliant as it was upon the biases of the scribes who had the training and skill to write things down.

When you think about how much of the series hinges upon unreliable narration and incomplete knowledge, it's entirely apropos.

[Hailto]

Who is Jon Snow really? Also what do you think will ultimately happen with the Bran storyline? I like to think he might save westeros in the end.

[Slave]

Who is Jon Snow really? Also what do you think will ultimately happen with the Bran storyline? I like to think he might save westeros in the end.

Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. He is the Prince Who Was Promised, and his is the song of ice and fire. It seems likely that he will be one of the heads of the dragon, along with Tyrion Lannister, who is probably Aerys Targaryen II's son by Johanna Lannister, making Jon Snow his nephew and Daenerys Targaryen his half-sister.

Bran has met Brynden Rivers, who is Bloodraven, a sorcerer and greenseer from 100 years previous. He was featured in the Dunk and Egg stories. [conjecture] I believe the Others are a faction of the Children of the Forest who came to hate humankind for their encroachment on their territory and killing of their people. Instead of the sad, long route of waning into history, they have chosen to fight back with their command of death and nature, which has twisted them as a race. [end conjecture]

It's harder to see where Bran's story is going than almost anyone else's... he will be beyond the Wall when the Others invade. Poor Jojen and Meera Reed up there in no-man's land. Perhaps he will reconcile the two factions of the Children and blunt the hatred of the Others. He is almost certainly going to spend hundreds of years sitting in a cave with roots up his ass. Very creepy.

Of course, Rickon is in Skagos with Osha. Davos Seaworth has been commissioned by Lord Manderly to return him to the North so that the old Stark retainers will have something to rally around. But then, Littlefinger is doing much the same with Sansa and Harry the Heir, but he'll have little need of Harry once Sansa marries him. Little Robert is doomed to die quickly and unlamented, being a sickly and petulant child.

[Slave]

How does one's life becomes so pathetically bleak and hopeless that they decide that becoming an ASOIAF expert is a worthwhile venture?

As well to ask, what better purpose to a man's time than scholarship? To bring the light of knowledge and reason into the world is a noble calling, shared by such luminaries from Prometheus to Socrates to Hawking.

I would counter with, how does one's life become so pathetically bleak and hopeless that they decide trolling humankind's highest duty and honor is a worthwhile venture?

[Slave]

For make no mistake, this is an historically significant work of literature.

[achtung]

For make no mistake, this is an historically significant work of literature.

Disagree. First 3 maybe the the last 2 are in dire need of an editor. He must have used "cheek by jowl" 40 times in the 5th one. All that HBO money going to his head.

[Kraftwerk]

Oh.

If you could have sex with any ASOIAF character who would you pick

Along which part of the storyline? Aren't they all like 10 years old in GOT?

[aresprophet]

Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. He is the Prince Who Was Promised, and his is the song of ice and fire. It seems likely that he will be one of the heads of the dragon, along with Tyrion Lannister, who is probably Aerys Targaryen II's son by Johanna Lannister, making Jon Snow his nephew and Daenerys Targaryen his half-sister.


While there's plenty of evidence to support your assessment of Jon's parentage (if it turns out he's not the son of Rhaegar, Martin has been trolling us all along) there's next to nothing to support the hypothesis that Tyrion is anything but Tywin's son. That's wishful thinking on the part of readers who want Tyrion to be special because he's their favorite character.

It's a huge stretch to go from "Tywin dislikes Tyrion" to "Tyrion must not be Tywin's son" when the simplest explanation is that Joanna died in childbirth, not because she was raped by Aerys.

Unlike Jon, there's not much reason as the series stands to think that Tyrion is the third head of the dragon. The rhetorical question "if not him then who is it?" is dumb because we don't have strong evidence for it being anyone right now.

I could be wrong and Tyrion's parentage turns out to be a big secret but it's not hinted at strongly enough right now to put any stock in it.

My intuition is that Dorne is going to have some special significance; Quentyn Martell's quest aside, a lot of threads are dangling loose down there. Myrcella is in Prince Doran's hands, the Red Viper poisoned Tywin Lannister and nobody realizes it yet, his daughters want blood, and it's entirely possible they'll side with Aegon and the Golden Company in war against King's Landing. With Tywin and Kevan dead, Tyrion exiled, Cersei declawed, Varys and Littlefinger working against the throne, there's nobody left but the Tyrells who can really stand against that kind of attack. And let's face it, the Tyrells are too shrewd to fight a war they may not win.

And let's not forget Princess Sarella lurking around Oldtown just as the Maesters seem to be getting up to some serious shit. The Dornish are going to be a big, big player in whatever comes next.

[Slave]

Disagree. First 3 maybe the the last 2 are in dire need of an editor. He must have used "cheek by jowl" 40 times in the 5th one. All that HBO money going to his head.

And how many times was "wine-dark seas" used in the Odyssey? It's called an epithet. Not that I believe that actually occurs much in ASOIAF, but if it did, it is certainly a literary device according to Martin's skill.

[Slave]

While there's plenty of evidence to support your assessment of Jon's parentage (if it turns out he's not the son of Rhaegar, Martin has been trolling us all along) there's next to nothing to support the hypothesis that Tyrion is anything but Tywin's son. That's wishful thinking on the part of readers who want Tyrion to be special because he's their favorite character.

It's a huge stretch to go from "Tywin dislikes Tyrion" to "Tyrion must not be Tywin's son" when the simplest explanation is that Joanna died in childbirth, not because she was raped by Aerys.

Unlike Jon, there's not much reason as the series stands to think that Tyrion is the third head of the dragon. The rhetorical question "if not him then who is it?" is dumb because we don't have strong evidence for it being anyone right now.

I could be wrong and Tyrion's parentage turns out to be a big secret but it's not hinted at strongly enough right now to put any stock in it.

My intuition is that Dorne is going to have some special significance; Quentyn Martell's quest aside, a lot of threads are dangling loose down there. Myrcella is in Prince Doran's hands, the Red Viper poisoned Tywin Lannister and nobody realizes it yet, his daughters want blood, and it's entirely possible they'll side with Aegon and the Golden Company in war against King's Landing. With Tywin and Kevan dead, Tyrion exiled, Cersei declawed, Varys and Littlefinger working against the throne, there's nobody left but the Tyrells who can really stand against that kind of attack. And let's face it, the Tyrells are too shrewd to fight a war they may not win.

And let's not forget Princess Sarella lurking around Oldtown just as the Maesters seem to be getting up to some serious shit. The Dornish are going to be a big, big player in whatever comes next.

Dragon dreams, dutiful Johanna, the entire conflict between Aerys II and Tywin, what do you think caused that? Tyrion's especially light-colored hair, his dwarfism resulting from centuries of inbreeding on his father's side, Aerys's coveting of Johanna, incidents which occured during the bedding, Twyin's barely-restrained hatred of Tyrion, the only reason he doesn't kill him outright is because it would prove his shame to all; read Barristan's speech to Daenerys in ADwD: there is more evidence for his being the son of Aerys than Tywin.

I didn't catch Oberyn's poisoning of Tywin, that is awesome. I enjoy the Sand Snakes as much as anyone, and of course Gerold Dayne is hilarious as a wannabe Batman-type. Dorne has already lost two princes in the war - Doran is cautious by nature but but yearns for vengeance; cautious and vengeful men like Manderly have surprised us before. And Dorne has 50,000 spears in two armies.

With the trend toward tragedy, they may spend themselves on the Targaryen Pretender Aegon, leaving Daenerys to pick up the pieces. Tyrell is already under attack from the Iron Islands, and now have Aegon to deal with. My guess is that The Golden Company and Dorne ally and Mace Tyrell is finally able to prove his worth in battle: not much. They will expend themselves on each other until Jon Connington, an actual badass, succumbs to the greyscale.

With the shocking end to ADwD, Cersei is again back in the forefront of leadership; there is no one else to assume the regency. And now she will be more careful to match her base cunning... but of course Jaime will kill her. The valonqar...

[Slave]

Oh did you catch why Varys is a Targaryen loyalist? I finally figured this out the other day. He gives Tyrion some bullshit excuse but --- it is because he's a wizard and his power is linked to the dragons.

[Bodeanicus]

Oh did you catch why Varys is a Targaryen loyalist? I finally figured this out the other day. He gives Tyrion some bullshit excuse but --- it is because he's a wizard and his power is linked to the dragons.

Clarify.

[Slave]

Varys is out for power. Everything he has done so far has been to throw the Seven Kingdoms into chaos for Daenerys's return so she will not have to face a united front. It is not out of some strange sense of loyalty to the Targaryens however, it is because he is a wizard and magical power has been increasing in the world since the advent of the dragons. He wants the most magical power he can get for his own ends, so for now he shares many of the same goals as Daenerys. When he has enough, however, there is almost no telling what he will be capable of and what he may use it for.

[Slave]

Oh.

If you could have sex with any ASOIAF character who would you pick

I would say Asha Greyjoy would be a great lay, she seems to know what she's doing. So would Melisandre, but she'd suck your soul through your penis. Daenerys is a little hottie too, but already well-used... maybe Margaery Tyrell? Cersei is a psycho and that always translates well to the sack, and the Sand Snakes would probably be the ultimate orgy of ultimate destiny.

[Bodeanicus]

Varys is out for power. Everything he has done so far has been to throw the Seven Kingdoms into chaos for Daenerys's return so she will not have to face a united front. It is not out of some strange sense of loyalty to the Targaryens however, it is because he is a wizard and magical power has been increasing in the world since the advent of the dragons. He wants the most magical power he can get for his own ends, so for now he shares many of the same goals as Daenerys. When he has enough, however, there is almost no telling what he will be capable of and what he may use it for.

Is that why he told Tyrion he hates magicians and sorcerers after one castrated him when he was a child? It could be argued he just said that to throw off suspicion, but nothing has be written that even hints of Varys being a sorcerer of any type. He's an expert actor, and intelligence gatherer. In short, he's a master spy, and supports whoever he thinks will be the best ruler. I won't go so far to say he's altruistic. His end game is to bring Aegon Targaryen back from exile to rule. With Varys as councilor, of course. He loves power as much as Littlefinger, but I think he's arguable more concerned for the kingdom as a whole. Littlefinger just wants to be king.

This theory is arguable as far fetched as the Tyrion is a Targaryen theory. Highly improbable.

[Bodeanicus]

Is that why he told Tyrion he hates magicians and sorcerers after one castrated him when he was a child? It could be argued he just said that to throw off suspicion, but nothing has be written that even hints of Varys being a sorcerer of any type. He's an expert actor, and intelligence gatherer. In short, he's a master spy, and supports whoever he thinks will be the best ruler. I won't go so far to say he's altruistic. His end game is to bring Aegon Targaryen back from exile to rule. With Varys as councilor, of course. He loves power as much as Littlefinger, but I think he's arguably more concerned for the kingdom as a whole. Littlefinger just wants to be king.

This theory is arguably as far fetched as the Tyrion is a Targaryen theory. Highly improbable.

[Slave]

Is that why he told Tyrion he hates magicians and sorcerers after one castrated him when he was a child? It could be argued he just said that to throw off suspicion, but nothing has be written that even hints of Varys being a sorcerer of any type. He's an expert actor, and intelligence gatherer. In short, he's a master spy, and supports whoever he thinks will be the best ruler. I won't go so far to say he's altruistic. His end game is to bring Aegon Targaryen back from exile to rule. With Varys as councilor, of course. He loves power as much as Littlefinger, but I think he's arguable more concerned for the kingdom as a whole. Littlefinger just wants to be king.

This theory is arguable as far fetched as the Tyrion is a Targaryen theory. Highly improbable.

Varys knows that sorcery exists from his experience becoming a eunuch. Varys knows that dragons increase the power of magic in the world. Varys is obsessed with magical powers because of what happened to him. He has gained some measure of it, and uses it to supplement his spying abilities via the children. He "knows things that he shouldn't possibly be able to know."

If Varys hates magic so much, he wouldn't be doing everything in his power to place Daenerys on the Iron Throne, because he knows that dragons are magic made flesh. It's subtle but it's all there, just as Johanna and Aerys II = Tyrion, which there is more than enough evidence for.

[Slave]

He is also called a sorcerer several times by Illyrio in their conversation beneath the Red Keep that Arya overhears.

[Bodeanicus]

Varys knows that sorcery exists from his experience becoming a eunuch. Varys knows that dragons increase the power of magic in the world. Varys is obsessed with magical powers because of what happened to him. He has gained some measure of it, and uses it to supplement his spying abilities via the children. He "knows things that he shouldn't possibly be able to know."

If Varys hates magic so much, he wouldn't be doing everything in his power to place Daenerys on the Iron Throne, because he knows that dragons are magic made flesh. It's subtle but it's all there, just as Johanna and Aerys II = Tyrion, which there is more than enough evidence for.

He isn't trying to put Daenerys Targaryen on the throne. He's trying to put Aegon Targaryen on the throne. Varys "know things he shouldn't know" because he's The Master of Whisperers. He's the spymaster. That's what he does. There's nothing magic about it. And I don't recall him knowing anything about the connection between dragons and magic. If you know the passage, tell me what book, and what page.

I think you're looking for an excuse to make Varys a wizard or sorcerer because you want him to be. He's not. He's done nothing overtly magical in the books, like Daenerys, Melissandre, Jaqen Haqar (Faceless Man,) The Others, The Three Eyed Crow, Mirri Maz Duur, or Euron Crow's Eye (Greyjoy.) He's just a very good actor and spy with many, many contacts and resources. Nothing more.

[Slave]

He isn't trying to put Daenerys Targaryen on the throne. He's trying to put Aegon Targaryen on the throne. Varys "know things he shouldn't know" because he's The Master of Whisperers. He's the spymaster. That's what he does. There's nothing magic about it. And I don't recall him knowing anything about the connection between dragons and magic. If you know the passage, tell me what book, and what page.

I think you're looking for an excuse to make Varys a wizard or sorcerer because you want him to be. He's not. He's done nothing overtly magical in the books, like Daenerys, Melissandre, Jaqen Haqar (Faceless Man,) The Others, The Three Eyed Crow, Mirri Maz Duur, or Euron Crow's Eye (Greyjoy.) He's just a very good actor and spy with many, many contacts and resources. Nothing more.

He's so subtle that he has you convinced, doesn't he? He knows things he shouldn't know. Ned knew he was Master of Whisperers when he said that. And you're wholly throwing out the whole sorcerer conversation with Illyrio. I think you're ignoring important evidence! Even the pyromancers have been exclaiming about the improved state of magic. As you say, it's Varys's job to know things. To put this one past him, yet ascribe him an equal-to-magical ability to ferret out other secrets, is inconsistent.

[aresprophet]

He's so subtle that he has you convinced, doesn't he? He knows things he shouldn't know. Ned knew he was Master of Whisperers when he said that. And you're wholly throwing out the whole sorcerer conversation with Illyrio. I think you're ignoring important evidence! Even the pyromancers have been exclaiming about the improved state of magic. As you say, it's Varys's job to know things. To put this one past him, yet ascribe him an equal-to-magical ability to ferret out other secrets, is inconsistent.

Because trusting some guy he has no control over across the Narrow Sea is exactly the kind of subtlety and manipulation Varys is known for.

If Varys is anything more than a crafty, ruthless, cunning son of a bitch, he might have Faceless Man training. His disguises seem to be that good. But he clearly isn't a Faceless Man himself, unless he's playing the longest of long games. Unlikely.

One thing that bothers me about ASOIAF fans is that, after the Rhaeger + Lyanna theory was ferreted out, everyone wants to have some random-ass conjecture with the slimmest shred of evidence as the Next Big Plot Twist You Totally Don't See Coming But I Do. The Tyrion Targaryen thing is one of those; the thing about that one is that in the first three books there wasn't the faintest hint at such a thing, and then in Dance you've got a bunch of out of place stuff that sends people scrambling for wild hypotheses.

The best of these is Jon, since he's now dead. "But Catelyn came back! But Coldhands! But wights! But Beric Dondarion!" and all the people saying this don't realize that rising from the dead in this series is not a good thing. Jon is, at best, a revenant, or a servant of the Red God, or a mindless zombie, or a thrall of the Others. Unless he gets a special plot exclusion for being half of Martin's two-headed author insert, which is entirely possible.

Come to think of it, that last bit probably explains the Tyrion crap. Martin has his favorites in this series (Jon, Tyrion, and Arya specifically) and some of their chapters suffer for it. If they suffer crippling injuries (sword to the face, blindness, near-loss of hand) they recover quickly with perhaps some scars to show for it. If they make a poor decision they are shown the error of their ways and repent, or they have a chance to redeem themselves nearly instantly, or they weasel out of it. I hope Jon's dead in the fucking ground because ever since ASoS Martin has done a lot to shed his well-earned reputation for being a heartless bastard to his characters.

That'd do a lot to make me respect him again, knowing that he doesn't give a shit who I like.

[Bodeanicus]

One thing that bothers me about ASOIAF fans is that, after the Rhaeger + Lyanna theory was ferreted out, everyone wants to have some random-ass conjecture with the slimmest shred of evidence as the Next Big Plot Twist You Totally Don't See Coming But I Do. The Tyrion Targaryen thing is one of those; the thing about that one is that in the first three books there wasn't the faintest hint at such a thing, and then in Dance you've got a bunch of out of place stuff that sends people scrambling for wild hypotheses..

This.

[Bodeanicus]

And has to the conversation between Varys and Illyrio that Arya overheard, he wasn't speaking literally. He was in admiration of Varys' seemingly supernatural skills. Varys and Illyrio have been partners in crime, literally, since they were adolescents.

[Bodeanicus]

Apparently, there's a theory floating around that Varys is a Targaryen, hence his motive to retore the throne to the Targaryens.

"He shaves his head so his silver hair won't show, just like Egg in those other stories!"

[Slave]

The best of these is Jon, since he's now dead. "But Catelyn came back! But Coldhands! But wights! But Beric Dondarion!" and all the people saying this don't realize that rising from the dead in this series is not a good thing. Jon is, at best, a revenant, or a servant of the Red God, or a mindless zombie, or a thrall of the Others. Unless he gets a special plot exclusion for being half of Martin's two-headed author insert, which is entirely possible.


Jon took a graze to the neck, a dagger to the gut, and one to the back. There was a giant there and numerous wildlings to protect him from the rest, thus "He never felt the fourth knife. Only the cold..." This is apart from the fact that priests of R'hllor have strange healing powers (see Victarion's hand) and the ability to impart the Breath of Life. Melisandre is on the Wall with Jon, so he is certainly not ended even if his woulds would have otherwise proved mortal. However, the 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch is an inauspicious number, and one of the traitors may well be elected to the 999th. The 1000th, of course, shall be Stannis Baratheon when he takes the black over Daenerys's return.