The Ghosts of Harrenhal: A Song of Ice and Fire Podcast (ASOIAF)

A Game of Thrones | House of the Dragon
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Join us, as we venture chapter-by-chapter through the books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" (ASOIAF) series, by George R.R. Martin. We will discuss the details of a chapter, provide insights, give background information, and hit you with other tidbits that we find interesting. However, one thing we won't do is give spoilers! So come, let us be your guides on this epic journey. Follow us on Twitter at @GhostsHarrenhal, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube!

  1. 3d ago

    Epilogue - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Kevan Lannister presides over the Small Council, has dinner with Cersei, and then gets murdered by Varys and his little birds. Busy day. Mackelly and Simon try to keep it together. Chapter Review: Kevan Lannister and the Small Council quiz Ronnet Connington over the reappearance of cousin Jon Connington and this pretender Aegon. He protests his loyalty, but is held pending further consideration. Harys Swyft is trying to make new loans to pay off the existing loans. Next the trial of the Queens. Cersei is to be championed by Ser Robert Strong. Kevan is not the only member of the council to have misgivings about the silent giant. Ser Kevan reminds the Tyrell faction that if Cersei is found guilty then Tommen isn’t the king and Margaery isn’t the queen, so they’d better all get on board. As the council adjourns Kevan worries about the loyalties of the members. He begins to see Cersei’s worries that the Tyrells have too much power. He dines with Cersei and Tommen. The king is sweet about his kittens. Cersei is penitent and seemingly broken. He’s glad but also sad. He’s called to Pycelle’s chambers, where he is ambushed by Varys who mortally wounds Kevan with a crossbow bolt. As Kevan dies, Varys explains that Kevan is too good. He’s securing Tommen’s throne and threatening to bring peace and stability to the realm. But Varys needs Cersei’s brand of chaos to create the conditions for Aegon’s ascension. Characters/Places/Names/Events Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen. Tommen Lannister - Younger son of Cersei and King of the Seven Kingdoms. Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, lord regent. Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven. Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei. Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei. Varys - Former master of whisperers. In hiding since he abetted Tyrion escaping the dungeons. Ser Robert Strong - New member of the Kingsguard. The size and shape of the now (believed) dead Mountain (Gregor Clegane). Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 35m

  2. Jun 16

    Chapter Seventy-One - Daenerys 10 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Daenerys lives. She’s learned to ride Drogon, but now she tries to walk home. This leads to an unfortunate run-in with old friends. Simon and Mackelly try to put one foot in front of the other. Chapter Review: Daenerys Targaryen lives. Drogon has brought her to a rocky outcrop in the Dothraki sea which he has made his lair. Between a small pond and the scraps from Drogon’s successful hunts, she’s surviving. What’s more, she’s learning to ride the dragon. Unlike horses he turns toward the whip. But only when he feels like it. Most of the time they go where he wants to go.  Foiled in her hopes of flying back to Meereen, she decides to walk. She’s spied a small stream and figures if she can follow it, she must surely eventually reach the Skahazadhan and Meereen. The journey is arduous and she possibly has a miscarriage. She also has visions of various people from her past.   Her chances of survival appear grim, especially when a Dothraki scout stumbles upon her. But he misses her, distracted by a dragon flying in the sky. Drogon swoops down to her. She climbs aboard. He harries the Khalasar and burns a horse. They land and both tuck into a warm meal. But are then surrounded by Khal Jhaqo’s men. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros. Drogon - Largest of Daenerys’ dragons. Ser Jorah Mormont - Disgraced advisor to Daenerys. Now with the Second Sons. Quaithe - Shadowbinder of Asshai, left Daenerys with prophecies that guide and bind her. Viserys Targaryen - Elder brother of Daenerys, killed by Khal Drogo. Khal Jhaqo - Former ko of Khal Drogo, now khal over a remnant of Drogo’s khalasar.  Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay. Dothraki Sea - Huge swath of Essos covered by grass and very little else. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 16m

  3. Jun 9

    Chapter Seventy - The Queen's Hand - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Ser Barristan watches a man die before meeting with his queen’s new council to discuss both peace and war plans. He then talks with the Dornishmen to offer a get-out-of-jail card. Finally, he meets with the Green Grace. The Yunki’i have rejected his ransom offer for the hostages. To emphasize this point, the Yunkai begin launching corpses into the city. Mackelly and Simon duck and cover. Chapter Review: Ser Barristan Selmy scans the horizon for a sign of Queen Daenerys Targaryen’s return. Instead, he surveys the destruction the freed dragons have wreaked on the city. He hears a death rattle coming from indoors and steps into the queen’s apartments as Prince Quentyn Martell takes his final breaths. Soon after, Skahaz mo Kandaq arrives. He gives Selmy the “butcher’s tally.” The Sons of the Harpy killed 29 last night. The pair make their way to join the council Selmy has assembled to run the city until the queen returns. The Green Grace has been sent to the Yunkai’i to offer a ransom for the queen’s remaining hostages. She hasn’t returned. Instead they discuss alternatives. If the Yunkai’i reject the offer, Barristan will respond with fire and blood. He presents war plans and the men debate strategy. When the council is dismissed, Selmy goes to the dungeons to inform Archibald Yronwood and Gerris Drinkwater that their friend and prince is dead. He then offers them an opportunity to keep their heads on their necks. If they take a message to the Tattered Prince requesting that he free the hostages, Selmy will send the Dornishmen home with Quentyn’s bones. Arch accepts on both men’s behalf. While waiting for the Green Grace to return, Selmy frets over his decisions. Are they what the queen would’ve wanted? His thoughts are interrupted by the return of the Green Grace. She wants King Hizdar zo Loraq freed. Only he can stop the violence within the city and save the peace with Yunkai. Selmy says the king will be freed, if he can prove he didn’t poison the queen. The Green Grace says the Yunkai’i rejected the ransom offer. Their discussion is interrupted by Skahaz, who bursts in to tell them the Yunkai have begun to fire their trebuchets. The Green Grace adds that it’s not rocks they’re launching. It’s corpses. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of the Dany’s Queensguard. Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys. Skahaz mo Kandaq (aka The Shavepate) - Ghiscari noble, loyal to Daenerys and opposed to Hizdahr. Quentyn Martell - Oldest son of Prince Doran Martell. Archibald Yronwood - Dornish knight and friend of Prince Quentyn Martell. Gerris Drinkwater - Dornish knight and friend of Prince Quentyn Martell. Green Grace - Top religious leader in the city. Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 13m

  4. Jun 2

    Chapter Sixty-Nine - Jon 13 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Jon Snow tries to arrange for a rescue mission to Hardhome, but his plans are derailed by a taunting missive from Ramsay Bolton. He now decides to go south to confront his tormentor, but this is the last straw for his critics who gang up on him and stab him repeatedly. Mackelly and Simon try to find reasons for hope. Chapter Review: Lord Commander Jon Snow describes his plan to rescue the free folk at Hardhome to Queen Selyse. She suggests the simpler solution, of letting them all die. Her men are to marry Gerrick Kingsblood’s daughters and she wants Val for Ser Patrek. Jon explains his plans to Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck, who disagree. He sends them away and welcomes Tormund Giantsbane, who has come with 50 men to help save the trapped wildlings. While they talk,Clydas brings a letter. It is signed by Ramsay Bolton, and details that Stannis is dead, Mance and his spearwives captured, and that Reek and his bride are to be returned immediately. Jon presents a new plan to the assembled Night’s Watch: Tormund and his men to Hardhome while Jon rides south to deal with Bolton and free Winterfell. Many join his cause. Wun Wun, protecting Val from the unwanted advances of Ser Patrek, bashes the smaller man to death. Jon tries to calm the giant, demanding that the assembled men sheathe their steel. But instead several of them turn on Jon and stab him repeatedly. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Jon Snow - Bastard son of Ned Stark. Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. Tormund Giantsbane - Leader of a large group of free folk. Queen Selyse Baratheon - Queen to King Stannis. Melisandre - Priestess of R’Hllor. Advisor to King Stannis Baratheon.  Val - Sister to Mance Rayder’s wife Dalla. Bowen Marsh - Lord Steward at Castle Black. Othell Yarwyck - First Builder at Castle Black. Hardhome - Once the closest thing to a town north of the Wall. Now home to thousands of Free Folk refugees. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 19m

  5. May 26

    Chapter Sixty-Eight - The Dragontamer - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Quentyn Martell tries to fulfill his destiny, and his deal with the Windblown, to obtain dragons. Not much goes to plan and the chapter ends with Rhaegal setting Quentyn afire. Simon and Mackelly hope his Targaryen blood will save him.   Chapter Review: Prince Quentyn Martell is determined to obtain a dragon. He cannot face the shame of returning to Dorne empty-handed. Gerris Drinkwater catches him testing his flesh against candle flame, with predictable results. Gerris thinks Quentyn needs a visit to a Red Grace. Quentyn is in no joking mood. He thinks his friends might be Dornish, but he is Dorne. He sees his future differently and is determined to make a name for himself. That morning they dress as Brazen Beasts and, armed with a password (“dog”) obtained by the Windblown, they try to make their way to the dragons. They get through one door but at the dragon’s lair they are forced to fight the guards. Within, the dragons have both broken their chains. While they take a brief interest in Pretty Meris, they quickly become unruly. Quentyn tries to act as Daenerys did, but his use of the whip only enrages the dragons. As he tries to subdue Viserion, Rheagal lights him on fire.     Characters/Places/Names/Events: Quentyn Martell - Eldest son, and second child of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne. Gerris Drinkwater “Drink” - Quentyn’s companion. Archibald Yronwood “Arch” - Final member of the trio. Windblown - Sellsword company that has entered the fight against Daenerys Targaryen. Tattered Prince - Captain of the Windblown. Daenerys Targaryen - Last remaining descendent of the royal Targaryen line, Stormborn, Mother of Dragons, claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros, Queen of Meereen. Meereen - Largest of the major slaver cities of Slaver’s Bay. Brazen Beasts - City watch company in Meereen. Made up of freedmen. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 7m

  6. May 19

    Chapter Sixty-Seven - The Kingbreaker - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Ser Barristan Selmy commits to the plan to oust King Hizdhar. He’s not thrilled about it, and extracts promises from Skahaz that blood would only be shed as a last resort. His capture of Hizdahr is interrupted - the dragons are loose. Jenny and Mackelly fetch buckets of sand. Chapter Review: Ser Barristan Selmy plots with Skahaz mo Kandaq to dethrone King Hizdahr zo Loraq and to establish a council to rule Meereen until Queen Daenerys Targaryen returns. If all goes well, they’ll treat with the besiegers for the return of the hostages. Selmy knows that Daenerys would be heartbroken if Daario Naharis were to be lost, but he considers how often the realm has suffered when rulers are led by their hearts rather than their heads. He advises Missandei to stay in the Queen’s chambers that evening, as he fears his actions may precipitate further bloodshed. He’s armored but helmless. With several loyal Brazen Beasts in tow, he gains access to the king’s chambers with fake news from Daenerys. He confronts Hizdahr with having tried to poison the queen and kill her dragons. The king denies it. Instead, he calls for his bodyguard Khrazz. The former pit fighter doesn’t know how to fight an armored opponent and Selmy defeats the larger, younger man. As Selmy moves to arrest Hizdar, news arrives that the dragons have been loosed. Characters/Places/Names/Events: Barristan Selmy - Former Lord Commander of the Kingsguard in King’s Landing. Now Lord Commander of Daenerys' Queensguard. Hizdahr zo Loraq - Noble of Meereen, husband to Daenerys. Now King of Meereen. Skahaz mo Kandaq (aka The Shavepate) - Ghiscari noble, loyal to Daenerys and opposed to Hizdahr. Reznak mo Reznak - Ghiscari seneschal. Advisor to Daenerys and Hizdahr. Khrazz - Pit fighter turned Kingsguard for King Hizdar. Meereen - Largest city on Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 20m

  7. May 12

    Chapter Sixty-Six - Tyrion 12 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Tyrion makes a deal with the Second Sons which gives him, Penny, and Jorah a second chance. Mackelly and Simon weigh up the deal that he’s struck. Chapter Review: Tyrion Lannister signs a stack of parchments, each gifting an increasing tranche of gold to the senior members of the Second Sons. He feigns anguish at the amounts but knows that he’s good for it if he comes into his inheritance and dead anyway if he doesn’t…so it’s all an act. After the bookkeeping he formally signs up to the Second Sons in blood. He wakes Penny and they visit the armor wagons. He wants her protected if battle should come. He gives her his usual dose of tough love. But her feelings for him remain undimmed. They encounter Ser Jorah Mormont who is freshly bedecked in armor of his own. And he’s showing signs of coming back to life after suffering miserably as a slave.  Jorah agrees that there is real danger. He thinks the Yunkai’i have lost the war. Between the Pale Mare, the unsullied, and the dragons the Meereenese have nothing to fear. The two men reckon that their salvation lies in convincing Brown Ben Plum and the Second Sons to turn their cloak one more time and fight for Queen Daenerys.    Characters/Places/Names/Events: Tyrion Lannister - Youngest son of Tywin Lannister, whom he murdered. Brother to queen Cersei and Jamie Lannister. Former Hand of the King. Ser Jorah Mormont - Twice-disgraced knight of the Seven Kingdoms. In love with Daenerys. Penny - Dwarf who performed at Joffrey’s wedding. Her brother Oppo was murdered. Brown Ben Plum - Westerosi sellsword who claims Targaryen blood, but has betrayed Daenerys. Meereen - Major city on Slaver’s Bay. Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 10m

  8. May 5

    Chapter Sixty-Five - Cersei 2 - A Dance with Dragons | A Song of Ice and Fire (ASOIAF)

    Send us Fan Mail Cersei does the walk of shame through King’s Landing. Mackelly and Simon wistfully recall their college days. Chapter Review: Queen Cersei Lannister is shaved (all over) and must walk through the streets of King’s Landing, from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep to atone for the cherry-picked sins that she has confessed to. She’s a lion and won’t be cowed.  She keeps her eyes on the Red Keep and the promise of seeing her son King Tommen again as the crowd pelt her with insults and rotten flora and fauna. She stumbles, slips in excrement, and sees faces from her past in the crowd. Eventually the abuse takes its toll and she realizes that she has made a fatal mistake. This crowd of baying peasants will never again see and fear her as the queen. WIth this she breaks and runs, then crawls the rest of the way. But she is met by Qyburn and the newly appointed Kingsguard brother Ser Robert Strong - all 8ft of him. Suddenly she feels a great wash of relief. Her chances to prove her innocence in the trial by combat have just increased meteorically.  Characters/Places/Names/Events: Cersei Lannister - Dowager Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Mother to King Tommen. Tommen Lannister - Younger son of Cersei and King of the Seven Kingdoms. Kevan Lannister - Uncle to Cersei, King regent. Lancel Lanniser - Son of Kevan, former lover of Cersei. Now a convert to the militant branch of the Faith of the Seven. Qyburn - Disgraced maester of the citadel. Ally to Cersei. Margaery Tyrell - Wife to King Tommen. Despised by Cersei. Ser Robert Strong - new member of the Kingsguard. The size and shape of the now (believed) dead Mountain (Gregor Clegane). Support the show Support us: Buy us a Cup of Arbor Gold, or become a sustainer and receive cool perksDonate to our causeUse our exclusive URL for a free 30-day trial of AudibleBuy or gift Marriott Bonvoy points through our affiliate linkBuy GoH merchandise through our store.Rate and review us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, podchaser.com, and elsewhere. Find us on social media: DiscordTwitter @GhostsHarrenhalFacebookInstagramYouTubeAll Music credits to Ross Bugden: INSTAGRAM! : https://instagram.com/rossbugden/ (rossbugden)  TWITTER! : https://twitter.com/RossBugden (@rossbugden)  YOUTUBE! : https://www.youtube.com/wa...

    1h 21m
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Join us, as we venture chapter-by-chapter through the books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" (ASOIAF) series, by George R.R. Martin. We will discuss the details of a chapter, provide insights, give background information, and hit you with other tidbits that we find interesting. However, one thing we won't do is give spoilers! So come, let us be your guides on this epic journey. Follow us on Twitter at @GhostsHarrenhal, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Discord, and YouTube!

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