Post by arrysfleas on Sept 1, 2016 23:55:26 GMT
I am thinking more and more that the LN and Others were the counterbalance to the growing power of the Fire/Summer (pre)Valyrian side of the equation. But if you're looking for natural phenomena, I expect that one won't work for you either.
Actually, a natural phenomena LN does not preclude the Others, IMO. The Others can be taking advantage of the situation.
In their novel Lucifer's Hammer, Pournelle and Niven have a fanatic religious character, Reverend Armitage, who takes great advantage of the impending doom, a comet is heading for earth, and of the resultant gloom caused by the bull's eye.
So circumstances can favour the opportunist.
I guess they are a bit like the shadows in Ned's dream, now that you mention it. That would actually work with my new idea that they are the shadows of the neverborn dragonlord babies like Rhaego. But what do you mean by not taking them too literally? Are you referring to their appearance, or their motives?
But we have seen white walkers up close, so I feel pretty confident that they are real.
Come the ww, I have always been very puzzled by the fact that both sightings have taken place at night in the Haunted Forest which is always described as a dark place even in day time. Will was, unusually freaked-out before hand, on top of a tree, lost in pine needles and Sam was severely affected by exhaustion, out of body experiences, etc.
So i question the quality of the witnesses, their state of mind, their ability to even see in the dark. I suspect the author is playing games with me, the reader.
When you think of it, the Others/Miasma do not need physical agents like the ww, just so long as the characters believe that they saw them.
I posted something along these lines at the heretics but it was too heretic.
So all the training she and Bran have been through was for the purpose of killing Euron, whose rise BR foresaw long ago?
not quite, BR trained Bran because he needs him, because 'the hour is late' because of what is happening 'beyond the curtain of light' and in Asshai (dragons).
At the same time, if,, somehow he was aware of Euron's ambitions, he would have kept an eye on him and possibly prepared a long term plan with Arya. As you mentioned, the Faceless Men may be answering the call from BR.
Very speculative, i must admit; but it's fun!