Ask Me Anything About ASOIAF

[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]

Originally Posted by Reikerz [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Slave [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Bodeanicus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Bodeanicus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Slave [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Bodeanicus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by Slave [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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]

Originally Posted by aresprophet [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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.