Warning: Our Game of Madness articles will include content from the five currently released A Song of Ice and Fire books and seasons 1-5 of HBO's adaptation Game of Thrones. Some material from A Feast for Crows and A Dance With Dragons has not been covered in the show yet, but may be in season 6. If you aren't caught up with the books and/or show, read on with care.
From Ib to Asshai
We're kicking off our second day of action in the Game of Madness with a scenic cruise around the islands of Westeros, getting up close and personal with too many Ironborn to be comfortable with, a pair of Dragonstone combatants, a beauty from Tarth, and a mad pirate who has sailed all over the known world. The island region may be the most brutal in our contest, whoever comes out on top will possibly be the most battle tested warrior to enter our finals.
[su_divider top=no]
1. Rhaegar Targaryen vs 8. Asha/Yara Greyjoy
[mks_col]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[/mks_col]
Rhaegar is the closest thing A Song of Ice and Fire has to a knight in shining armor. Only Robert Baratheon has a negative thing to say about Rhaegar but the man is clearly biased, and with good reason too. The Last Dragon took the love of his life, Lyanna Stark, and fled with her, an action that kickstarted the rebellion that ended the Targaryen dynasty. Even Ned seems to respect Rhaegar which would be more than a little strange if the prince did in fact imprison and rape his sister Lyanna. Regardless of what he may have been like personally, we do know that he excelled at everything he set his mind to and that includes combat. No matter how good at fighting he may have been, however, we know that Rhaegar was a bookish youth who wasn’t born with a warrior’s thirst for battle. He didn’t become a fighter until something he read inspired him to take up arms.
His opponent, Asha Greyjoy (known as Yara in HBO’s adaptation), can be confirmed as a fierce fighter while Rhaegar’s skills are up for debate. The Ironborn think little and less of women yet Yara captains her own ship, the Black Wind, and commands her own crew of fighters. She shatters her people’s gender roles and has fought well in several battles, including the taking of Deepwood Motte and an encounter with Stannis’s forces after its retaking. She’s courageous as well, attempting to turn a Kingsmoot into her own Queensmoot despite being told the Ironborn would never follow a woman. She may not always succeed but she never goes down without a fight and she's one of the few respectable Ironborn characters we're introduced to. Her biggest blemish is her failure to rescue Theon from a shirtless Ramsay but we're all familiar with how OP show Ramsay is.
It’s hard not to root for Asha but unfortunately she’s facing one of the best. While Rhaegar may be seen as overrated by some, we know that he severely injured Robert Baratheon before getting rocked by the usurper’s warhammer on the Trident and it's no small feat to get such a blow in on Bobby B. That and praise from the likes of Barristan Selmy are enough to see that Rhaegar could handle Yara, though the fight won't be as easy as the Prince of Dragonstone may expect. It’s sad to see the Kraken’s daughter fall but the Last Dragon isn’t done yet.
Winner: Rhaegar Targaryen
[su_divider top=no]
4. Dagmer Cleftjaw vs 5. Brienne of Tarth
[mks_col]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[/mks_col]
Quietly one of the fiercest fighters to ever come from the Ironborn, Dagmer was quite neutered in the adapation. A brutal and well renowned fighter, Dagmer proves he has plenty of fight left well past his prime when he besieges Torrhen’s Square long enough to draw garrisons away from Winterfell, as well as holding it when he later returns to take it. When you come from such a fearsome group, it says a lot if you manage to stand out above the savage crowd hungry to prove their worth by sword and axe, by paying the iron price.
The Ironborn, however, are not known to take women very seriously and if there’s one woman in Westeros you can’t take lightly, it’s Brienne of Tarth. There are a handful of characters decorated by bloody accolades but there might not be another fighter we get to see in action as much as Brienne. Whether it’s in the show where she bests the likes of Loras Tyrell, Jaime Lannister, and the Hound, Sandor Clegane; or in the books where she repeats the first two bouts and takes on two more savage fights against outlaws with the numbers stacked against her, Brienne is battle tested.
Dagmer’s prime is up to speculation but Brienne’s is being witnessed by our own eyes as we read the books and watch the show. There's nothing you could possibly question about her toughness, strength, and skill. It may not come easy but victory will come to the maid of Tarth, and even if it comes in a dirty and brutal affair, it's nothing she isn't used to.
Winner: Brienne of Tarth
3. Stannis Baratheon vs 6. Euron Greyjoy
[mks_col]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[/mks_col]
The first of two Baratheon brothers to fight in today's action, Stannis Baratheon comes to us as the one true king of Westeros and takes us down one of the most tragic roads in the series. While he may be dead in HBO's adaptation, the Mannis still lives on in A Song of Ice and Fire and it seems as though some of his best moments are still yet to come. Stannis is viewed as one of the best commanders in the realm and, much like Ned Stark, that is where he shines. We don't get to see him fight in the books but he does get some action in the TV show. While leading the charge into King's Landing was purely made-for-TV drama (if the man first up the ladder isn't wearing a helmet, he's the first man dead ten times out of ten), a much more believable scene comes in season 5 when Stannis wins a two vs one fight against some Bolton soldiers. Sadly, this doesn't amount to much of a resume.
The embattled King's opponent in round one is the mysterious and psychotic Euron Greyjoy. A man who likes to drink Shade of the Evening, a man who claims he once threw a dragon egg into the sea in a fit of anger, a man who has raped and pillaged all over the known world. When men see Euron's sails, they pray. The Crow's Eye is as much a wildcard as he is a mad man, however. We haven't seen him in action yet but hopefully will in the coming books (he's also been confirmed to appear in season 6). Regardless of what we haven't seen yet, we know only a skilled and intelligent fighter could have survived the journeys he's taken which include trips to the mysterious Asshai, the Smoking Sea, and the cursed ruins of Valyria.
In the most perfect world, our one true king Stannis would celebrate the start of our tournament by thrusting Lightbringer into Melisandre's chest becoming Azor Ahai reborn. He would then go on to decimate every opponent we threw at him, winning the championship in a blaze of badass glory. Sadly, as this series has told us time and time again, the world of ice and fire is far from perfect. Stannis isn't Azor Ahai reborn, his sword isn't Lightbringer, and he's not much of a fighter. Give him control of your army and you'll be sleeping easy at night, have him stand for you in a trial by combat? Good luck.
Winner: Euron Greyjoy
[su_divider top=no]
2. Victarion Greyjoy vs 7. Theon Greyjoy
Victarian Greyjoy is “dumb as a stump” according to George RR Martin himself but this hardly keeps the Iron Captain down when you give him an axe and a foe to slaughter. Outsmarting the man may be easy but it will only save your hide if it helps you avoid a confrontation and that’s not how this contest works. In a world full of schemers and deceivers, Victarion is the rare straight shooter. Love him or hate him, there aren’t many others you’d rather have on your side when a storm of swords falls upon you. Our best glimpse at Victarion’s fighting abilities came during the taking of the Shields when he boarded an enemy ship and hacked away at every man who charged. After making his way to the ship’s captain, Talbert Serry, Victarion catches the quicker man’s blade and tosses it and the captain into the sea.
Victarion’s first round opponent is his own nephew, Theon Greyjoy. Dagmer Cleftjaw saw great potential in Theon but he was cut down well before his prime. He was gifted with a sword but his real talents lied in shooting a bow. He may be able to pepper his uncle with arrows from a distance but mere arrows won't stop Victarion. Once he closes in and forces Theon to draw his sword, it's a whole different story. Any promise Theon had as a warrior is long gone and pre-Reek Theon is simply no match for the furor of his nuncle.
While Victarion has seemingly been cut from HBO's adaptation, we still have The Winds of Winter and hopefully someone on the show picks up his plot. Especially the volcano arm. Please, HBO, give us the volcano arm.
Winner: Victarion Greyjoy
Ours Is the Fury
Next, we travel to the East, the lands ruled by the Iron Throne and the neutral Vale along with its neighboring Mountains of the Moon. Even a little Crannogman from the Neck travels down to take part in our Game of Madness. The Usurper Robert Baratheon leads the way with his warhammer but sellswords, brutes, knights, and lords have all come to the dance.
1. Robert Baratheon vs 8. Howland Reed
Robert Baratheon, the Usurper, is far past his prime when we join the world of ice and fire. As he states to Ned Stark, he was never so alive as when he was winning the throne and never so dead once he won it. Robert was born a fighter, not a ruler. He thirsts for battle, war, and glory, he cares little and less for politics and sitting the Iron Throne he took from the Targaryens. When his mighty warhammer is in hand out on a battlefield, he’s nearly unstoppable. He's a man who leads from the front lines and he's smashed everyone in his path, including the beloved Rhaegar Targaryen on the Trident. Once a King, Robert grew fat and apathetic. Drinking, hunting, and sleeping around were the only things that could keep him going. When Balon Greyjoy rose in rebellion, Robert was given the opportunity to swing his warhammer one last time.
The King’s opponent in round one is the most unlikeliest of competitors, the little Crannogman Howland Reed. Howland is noted for his bravery and intelligence, as well as being strong for his size. While Eddard is said to have slain the legendary Sword of the Morning Arthur Dayne, the Ned himself admitted that he would have died that fateful day if not for his good friend Howland Reed. How exactly Howland helped, or even killed Arthur Dayne, remains to be seen. While it may turn out that the Lord of Greywater Watch is indeed a skilled fighter, it’s more likely Howland survived the Tower of Joy, and Arthur Dayne, through use of magic or poison, or possibly a trap.
Howland Reed may be the only living man who knows of Lyanna Stark’s promise to Ned, a promise that has driven fans crazy for twenty years. While he will surely play a major role in the future, the knowledge of him that we currently have does not suggest he’s much of a skilled fighter, let alone one capable of taking down one of the best.
Winner: Robert Baratheon
[su_divider top=no]
4. Balon Swann vs 5. Yohn Royce
If our contest was for coolest name, Bronze Yohn Royce would win this hands down, but pairing these two up as fighters leaves us with quite a toss up. Both are well regarded, level headed, and strong. Balon Swann may get the chance to prove himself in future books (he’s been relegated to a very minor bit character in the show), but, for now, all we really know of him is that he’s skilled with a morning star and respected as a capable and wary knight.
The Bronze Yohn, on the other hand, has seen some more relevant action. He’s one of the few men we get to meet that has outlasted the crazed flaming sword of Thoros in a melee. We also know that he’s bested Eddard Stark and Rodrick Cassel, Winterfell’s master-at-arms, while sparring. Not an outstanding resume but more proof of his prowess as a warrior than his opponent Balon. Yohn Royce also stands as the chief obstacle in Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish’s way which doesn’t bode well for the man in The Winds of Winter and Season 6, but for now he lives on.
Winner: Yohn Royce
3. Lyn Corbray vs 6. Timett
[mks_col]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[/mks_col]
Lyn Corbray is a dangerous and shady man, and we know he has possession of a Valyrian steel blade, Lady Forlorn, which means in the series any man who chooses to cross swords with him is in for a fight. His biggest accolade came from Robert’s Rebellion when he picked up the blade from his fallen father and slayed the man who wounded the Lord. He then lead the charge against the Dornish and killed Lewyn Martell, a member of one of the finest Kingsguards there ever was.
Timett son of Timett is the fiercest member we’re introduced to of the Vale mountain clans. When he became a man, he sacrificed his own eye by burning it out, an action that earned him the respect and fear of his men, respect and fear that would never be questioned. The leader of the Burned Men, Timett fights for the imp Tyrion Lannister in the War of the Five Kings and serves as one of his most trusted guards. A brutal and savage fighter surely to be feared, Timett doesn’t stack up well against a high born warrior who was trained as such since a young age. Timett is still young and lacks a lot of experience, it’s not a stretch to imagine him charging in recklessly and being handled easily by a more experienced fighter. Even without the aid of Valyrian steel, Lyn Corbray handles the first burst of fury and finds victory soon after.
Winner: Lyn Corbray
[su_divider top=no]
2. Bronn vs 7. Shagga
[mks_col]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[mks_one_half]
[/mks_one_half]
[/mks_col]
Bronn is not a strong man by any means but he’s smart and fast and he knows how to weigh the risks behind every decision he makes. We see very early on that Bronn is a sell sword through and through when he fights Ser Vardis Egen in Tyrion Lannister’s trial by combat in the Vale. Where his opponent fights with honor, Bronn doesn't and that's the difference between life and death. The Lord Stokeworth continually grows throughout the series, serving as a lead guard to the imp he defended in the Vale, fighting in the War of the Five Kings, and winning a one vs one fight against Balman Byrch who is tasked by Queen Cersei with offing the sell sword. In HBO’s adaptation, Bronn escorts Jaime Lannister to Dorne where he exhibits more of his calm and calculated fighting style. There's also that whole weakness to the bad poosey but let's not go there, tis a silly place.
Bronn will have to face off against another one of Tyrion’s lead guards, Shagga son of Dolf. Much like Timett, Shagga impresses in the battle on the Green Fork and eventually rises to a leadership position of his mountain clan, the Stone Crows. After the Battle of the Blackwater, Shagga and his men return to the Kingswood where they successfully harried Stannis Baratheon’s men leading up to the big showdown. Bronn is not one to take risks, in a fight against a brute like Shagga, the sell sword would gladly draw the fight out and play it as safe as possible. That strategy isn’t one to work out well in this series but Bronn only needs one opening to strike fast and end it all. Shagga slips up first.
Winner: Bronn
[su_divider top=no]
That wraps up our second day of action in the Game of Madness. Let us know in the comments below how you see these matches playing out. Tomorrow, we'll be finishing the first round with the Far East and South regions which include some tourney favorites, heavy hitters, and a wide variety of fighting styles. In the meantime, check out the first day of action where the North and West regions kicked off our bloody contest.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.