Dornish plan?

I think by the time Doran and Arianne find out what happened to Quentyn they will already be supporting Aegon. I could see Arianne marrying Aegon. My own little speculation (not even a theory really) is that Cersei will win her trail, King's Landings will go up into flames while she flees to the Rock. After Aegon takes Storm's End I could see him and the Golden Company and others going to aid the Reach against the Ironborn. I could see Dany and Aegon going to war with each other as well.

 Yeah I think there's something bigger - and it's not what we actually hear Doran say out loud. This plotting has been going on since before the Rebellion, as Preston points out.

Thanks for the responses.

regular jon umber Agreed Oberyn was doing all kinds of stuff: Studying at the Citadel, travelling the Free Cities learning about poision and magic, fighting in the Disputed Lands/forming a sellsword company etc. I agree with Preston that Marwyn is working with the Martells. In fact I think he might have accompanied Oberyn in part of his travels in the Free Cities. I will spell it all out later but it basically has to do with where Marwyn found the three pages of "Signs and Portents" by Daenys the Dreamer. Pretty sure he found those behind the Black Walls of Volantis and Oberyn helped get him in. Besides the idea of Marwyn and a young Oberyn fighting, fucking, and fact finding around the Free Cities sounds like a great story.

snowfyre The Dornish POV's are disliked mainly because they are there to help obfuscate the Dornish plot. We have Arys Oakheart who is a Reacher, an outsider, and a bit racist against the Dornish. Second is Areo Hotah, another outsider who simply states what he sees. He never really gives us any kind of insight to what he sees. Lastly Arianne, who has seeming been locked out of the loop for what Doran and Oberyn are planning. Most of the planning seems to go down at the Water Gardens.

Its interesting to note that in Feast Doran has been at the Water Gardens for about two years, just about the length that our story has been going. Doran despite already having two Maesters has young man named Nate to deal with the ravens at the Water Gardens. Its almost like he doesn't trust the Maesters kind of like Marwyn.

Further we know that Doran is on good terms with the Archon of Tyrosh and the Sealord of Braavos. Has spies in Lys and King's Landing. Also its interesting to note how quickly he seemed to know that Dany was in Slavers Bay and sent Quentyn before anyone else in Westeros seemed to know.

I always found it curious that Oberyn was "banished" at age 16... then a few years later he's right back in Westeros attending Harrenhal like nothing's happen. This is before Quentyn is born, (or just as he's being born) so Quentyn's being sent to the Yronwoods hasn't calmed them down to Oberyn's being a viper in duels... so what gives with Oberyn being at Harrenhal?

It really makes me wonder if that's a mistake on George's part, or if Oberyn just showed up unannounced to see his favorite sister, or something else... that might have importance later.

Here is the rest of my Oberyn timeline, please note its incomplete but some people might find it interesting. I apologize in advance for the lack of formatting.

After, Oberyn left Dorne to explore the Free Cities. There he dabbled in the dark arts, learning the secrets of poisoning and far more, only to return to the Seven Kingdoms to study at the Citadel. He stayed there long enough to forge six links of a maester’s chain, and then he moved on again. He fought in the Disputed Lands, rode with a mercenary company for a time, and had many exploits of love, battles, wars, and more. - From APP

He had traveled in the Free Cities, learning the poisoner's trade and perhaps arts darker still, if rumors could be believed. The Red Viper went to Oldtown, thence across to the narrow sea to Lys, though none dared call it exile. 274 - 276?

He had studied at the Citadel, going so far as to forge six links of a maester's chain before he grew bored. 276 - 279?

He had soldiered in the Disputed Lands across the narrow sea, riding with the Second Sons for a time before forming his own company. 279 - 281?

His tourneys, his battles, his duels, his horses, his carnality . . . it was said that he bedded men and women both, and had begotten bastard girls all over Dorne. The sand snakes, men called his daughters. So far as Tyrion had heard, Prince Oberyn had never fathered a son.

Tournaments:
Harrenhal 281 AC
Storm’s End 276 – 278 AC
Unnamed (High Garden?) – 285 – 290 AC

Three phases of life:
1. Birth and Boyhood: 258 - 274
2. Exile and Exploration: 274 - 284
3. Dorne and Death: 284 - 300

Birth and Boyhood: 258 – 274 AC

Oberyn Nymeros Martell is born in 258 AC at Sunspear in Dorne. He was known as the “terror” of the pools during his time in the water gardens. He was fostered at Sandstone with House Qorgyle in 265. (Note: this is an estimation, we know that Doran was fostered at Salt Shore at the age of 9) An interesting thing to note is that the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch prior to Jeor Mormont was also from House Qorgyle.

In 271 AC Oberyn was in Oldtown and we don’t really know why a 13 year old Prince of Doran would be hanging out in Oldtown brothels.

In 272 Obara is born in Oldtown to a whore. Oberyn doesn’t claim her for several years.

In 273 AC the Princess of Dorne takes Oberyn and Elia on a trip to find them marriages. The places they visited were Starfall, the Arbor, Oldtown, the Shield Islands, Crakehall, and finally Casterly Rock. Interesting to note that only Starfall is in Dorne. The Arbor, Oldtown (again) and the Shield Islands are in the Reach. Crakehall and Casterly Rock are of course in the Westerlands. The true purpose is to marry either Oberyn or Elia to Jaime or Cersei. The Princess of Dorne and Joanna Lannister were close friends who had met at court and served as handmaidens to Princess Rhaella. Sadly Joanna had just died and the Dornish were rebuffed by Tywin Lannister.

In 274 AC is in Yronwood and is caught in bed with the paramour of its Lord Edgar Yronwood. The infamous duel occurs and Edgar dies from his wounds. People believe Oberyn poisoned his blade and he is known as “The Red Viper” henceforth. Due to House Yronwood’s outrage Oberyn is “exiled from Dorne.

Exile and Exploration: 274 – 284 AC

In 274 AC Oberyn leaves Dorne and goes back to Oldtown. From there he spends some time in Lys likely learning more about poison and perhaps darker arts.

In 275 AC has gone from Lys to Volantis and beds a noblewomen of the Old Blood and 9 months later Nymeria is born in Volantis.

In 276 AC is back again in Oldtown and starts his studying at the Citadel. He likely also claims Obara as his daughter during this time. Meet’s Tyene’s mother who is a Septa in the Reach. Probably at the motherhouse in Oldtown or from the Starry Sept.

In 277 AC Tyene is born in Reach, you would think that he takes her immediately but apparently she used to read to baby Tyene from the Seven Pointed Star. Oberyn’s studies continue at the Citadel.

Oberyn attends a Tournament in Storm’s End, we are unsure of the exact date but it happens between 276 – 278 AC.

In 279 AC Prince Rhaegar Targaryen marries Elia of Dorne. We don’t know that Oberyn attended but I find it hard to believe that Oberyn would miss the wedding of his beloved sister.

In 280 AC Oberyn joins the Second Son and signs for a year and fights with the Company. He also meets Sarella’s mother a Summer Islander, the Captain of the Feathered Kiss.

In 281 AC Sarella is born. Also during this year is the great Tournament at Harrenhal. Oberyn returned to the Seven Kingdoms to participate. He also danced with Ashara Dayne during the Tournament.

In 282 AC her returned to Essos and founded a sellsword company. We are not sure of its name. We are only told it that he runs the company for “a time.” Did it disband? Is it still around with someone else in charge?

In 283 AC Robert’s Rebellion ends. I think Oberyn was overseas during the time or we would have fought, or done something to assist Elia.

Dorne and Death: 284 – 300

284/285 AC Oberyn returns to Dorne and attempts to raise Dorne for Viserys. He likely met Ellaria Sand during this period. Doran and Oberyn are talked down by Jon Arryn and Prince Lewyn’s bones are returned to Sunspear.

Soon after Oberyn goes to Braavos to sign the Pact with Willem Darry. The Sealord of Braavos is a witness. Viserys will wed Arianne Martell. Oddly Willem never mentions this to Viserys or Dany.

285/286 AC – Elia Sand born aka Lady Lance. Named after Oberyn’s dead sister.

285-290 there is the infamous Tournament where Oberyn jousts against Willas Tyrell. Willas’s horse falls on him and he is crippled. Oberyn sends his own maester to help him. Willas and Oberyn become friends but most of the Tyrells blame Oberyn.

287/288 AC Obella is born. Named after Oberyn himself.

291/292 AC Dorea is born. Named after Doran Martell.

In 293 AC Loreza born. Possibly named Doran and Oberyn’s mother.

Other things that happened during this time was the training of Daemon Sand, the bastard of Godsgrace. He was Oberyn’s squire and possible lover. He was knighted by him. He was with Oberyn in King’s Landing when he died.

I'm still catching up and reading all of your findings Wraith but first I just wanted to say well done! I'm a huge admirer of sentence structure, and I cannot believe I never noticed what you point out in this quote above.

You are 100% right. The Dornish are repeatedly 'otherized' all throughout asoiaf with these types of word choices and sentence structures. I'm seriously aghast that I never noticed it before....but very appreciative that you discovered it.

Dorne is treated almost as if it isn't Westeros at all, but allied with the Free Cities.

Certainly some room to run with that lead... And I can't help but think of this:


And wonder if the cheesemonger was involved. Seems unlikely he wasn't...

Which raises the question, why did Illyrio let Viserys out of his fishbowl to drown in Dothraki gold? Was he setting a mousetrap?

Seems to me Young Griff is not a part of the Dornish plan, but of the Free Cities' Plan alone. Mayhaps Dorne's vengeance has been irrevocably poisoned, and Arianne will be the one eating the cheese.

Spoilers for Winds of Winter sample chapter.