Varys' Riddle

whitewolfstark
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Varys' Riddle Mar 28, 2016 0:19:16 GMT

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Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 28, 2016 0:19:16 GMT

What's your answer to Varys' riddle--knowing his punchline that he has?

Three great men sit in a room: a King, a priest, and a rich man. Between them stands a common sellsword. Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two. Who lives, who dies?

We know that Varys' point is: power resides where men believe it does--but now try and apply that to the riddle above.

voice Administrator Absolution Bastard Posts: 9,520 Mini-Profile Theme: Example 2 Staff Mini-Profile Theme: Example 3 voice inherit Absolution Bastard Male Administrator 6 0 1 Apr 24, 2020 19:16:11 GMT 14,511 voice 9,520 Nightmare Moon Jul 22, 2015 20:02:17 GMT July 2015 Twitter voice Example 2 Example 3	Varys' Riddle Mar 28, 2016 3:06:41 GMT via Tapatalk Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by voice on Mar 28, 2016 3:06:41 GMT The answer is Ilyn Payne. Lol
	"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."

Gwindor
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Varys' Riddle Mar 29, 2016 8:40:34 GMT Lady Dyanna likes this

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Post by Gwindor on Mar 29, 2016 8:40:34 GMT

The punchline is the answer to the riddle.

The one surviving will be the one 'casting the largest shadow', the one who has managed to make his power the most believable to the common sellsword. Tyrion gives a correct answer of sorts, that it depends on the sellsword, but Varys argues that it isn't really the sellsword's decision, as it is guided by his perception of power, by the shadows cast by the king, the priest, and the rich man.

In other words, given different sets of 'a king, a priest, a rich man, and a common sellsword', we will get different outcomes, but the key to guessing it beforehand, according to Varys, lies in analyzing the power structure as perceived by the sellsword, in comparing the lengths of the shadows.

Lady Dyanna
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Varys' Riddle Mar 30, 2016 2:06:07 GMT

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Post by Lady Dyanna on Mar 30, 2016 2:06:07 GMT

I agree with Gwindor again it seems. The only thing that I want to add is that this, I believe, was also Varys's method of trying to let Tyrion know that Littlefinger was behind Ned's death. What is Littlefinger but the man with the money? Also, Tyrion is arrogant enough to believe that he himself is the small man casting a large shadow, but we know that Littlefinger is also a small man.

Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility?
The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t?
The I-will to their better-nots?

voice Administrator Absolution Bastard Posts: 9,520 Mini-Profile Theme: Example 2 Staff Mini-Profile Theme: Example 3 voice inherit Absolution Bastard Male Administrator 6 0 1 Apr 24, 2020 19:16:11 GMT 14,511 voice 9,520 Nightmare Moon Jul 22, 2015 20:02:17 GMT July 2015 Twitter voice Example 2 Example 3	Varys' Riddle Mar 30, 2016 2:21:40 GMT via Tapatalk Lady Dyanna likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by voice on Mar 30, 2016 2:21:40 GMT NK casts the biggest shadow...so big the sun hides its face for a generation. :::
	"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."

Lady Dyanna
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And Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna. Blah. Blah. Blah. Hand me the war hammer!

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Varys' Riddle Mar 30, 2016 3:09:47 GMT voice likes this

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Post by Lady Dyanna on Mar 30, 2016 3:09:47 GMT

Mar 30, 2016 2:21:40 GMT voice said:

NK casts the biggest shadow...so big the sun hides its face for a generation. : :devil

::

Oh, how did I not see this coming???

Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility?
The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t?
The I-will to their better-nots?

voice Administrator Absolution Bastard Posts: 9,520 Mini-Profile Theme: Example 2 Staff Mini-Profile Theme: Example 3 voice inherit Absolution Bastard Male Administrator 6 0 1 Apr 24, 2020 19:16:11 GMT 14,511 voice 9,520 Nightmare Moon Jul 22, 2015 20:02:17 GMT July 2015 Twitter voice Example 2 Example 3	Varys' Riddle Mar 30, 2016 4:12:08 GMT Wraith likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by voice on Mar 30, 2016 4:12:08 GMT Mar 30, 2016 3:09:47 GMT Lady Dyanna said: Oh, how did I not see this coming??? "North or south, they sing no songs for spiders..." Oh when the saints...come marching in... Or do they? LOL
	"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."

slant Quentyn Martell Posts: 203 slant inherit Male 80 0 Feb 25, 2023 9:17:21 GMT 321 slant 203 Quentyn Martell Mar 9, 2016 12:18:25 GMT March 2016 slant	Varys' Riddle Mar 31, 2016 11:13:52 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by slant on Mar 31, 2016 11:13:52 GMT rich man

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Tend the Fire

Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 28, 2016 0:19:16 GMT

Post by voice on Mar 28, 2016 3:06:41 GMT

Post by Gwindor on Mar 29, 2016 8:40:34 GMT

Post by Lady Dyanna on Mar 30, 2016 2:06:07 GMT

Post by voice on Mar 30, 2016 2:21:40 GMT

Post by Lady Dyanna on Mar 30, 2016 3:09:47 GMT

Post by voice on Mar 30, 2016 4:12:08 GMT

Post by slant on Mar 31, 2016 11:13:52 GMT