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Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

Rather than make a separate thing for each item that I come across on my reread I figured I should just make one thread and stick them all in here.

The item for today involves Jon's first meeting with Ygritte.
Jon has gone with Qorin Halfhand and some others to scout ahead to see what is going on up in the frostfangs.
One night they spot a fire at a lookout spot and send two people, Jon and Stonesnake, to kill the lookouts.
At this point Jon has never even killed anyone but we are supposed to believe that a seasoned commander like the halfhand is going to send a green unblooded kid on such a vital mission? I really can't see that happening.

IthilanorStPete · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject:

Quorin explains it-he wanted to find out if Jon was capable of doing so.

_________________
-Ithy

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."
-The Necronomicon

"Once you truly realize that humanity is a dead end, the only way out is to stop being human."
-H. P. Lovecraft

The King Of NYC · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject:

I think the older folks in the watch saw something in Jon that they liked from the beginning. Being born into power(somewhat) allowed him to be skilled in fighting, able to read and write and other things that put him in a different class then the usual wall fodder. Jon was at a crossroads in his life and no doubt old bear knew how Jon's character would come through in a position of responsibility, and he probably conveyed as much to Halfhand when they first joined parties on the fist.

Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

IthilanorStPete wrote:

Quorin explains it-he wanted to find out if Jon was capable of doing so.

I think the thing Quorin wanted to find out about was whether Jon would Kill Ygritte.
That is a different thing.

IthilanorStPete · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject:

*checks back* Embarassed

You're right, Hodor. Go with King's explanation, then.

_________________
-Ithy

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."
-The Necronomicon

"Once you truly realize that humanity is a dead end, the only way out is to stop being human."
-H. P. Lovecraft

Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

The King Of NYC wrote:

I think the older folks in the watch saw something in Jon that they liked from the beginning. Being born into power(somewhat) allowed him to be skilled in fighting, able to read and write and other things that put him in a different class then the usual wall fodder. Jon was at a crossroads in his life and no doubt old bear knew how Jon's character would come through in a position of responsibility, and he probably conveyed as much to Halfhand when they first joined parties on the fist.

All this may be true. However, we are talking about a high risk assignment where failure could mean death for all of them. I would expect Quorin to send people he KNOWS can do the job rather than someone who "has that certain something" and is of good character.

The King Of NYC · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

I think that all of his qualities make him a good choice for the job personally. Jon was chosen to go because they knew his abilities would be better served out with Qorin than cooking for the higher-ups in the camp.
As for him killing for the first time, I guess Qorin figured he's gotta pop his cherry soon enough, and definately would have by the end of their mission anyway, so why not? better to have him freeze up sneaking behind someone in their sleep than doing it in the middle of a fight.
I agree that it seems risky, but Jon is a sort of diamond in the rough among the night watch newbs. Plus with the direwolf and the incident with the wight in Mormont's room, you have to think they looked at Jon as something special, so it really isnt suprising to me that they had faith in his success.

**Fastolph** · Site Admin Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 553

Hodor wrote:

However, we are talking about a high risk assignment where failure could mean death for all of them.

Well, from his death we know Quorin doesnt value his life that much...

_________________

**grimsqueaker** · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 8:21 am Post subject:

Or that he resigned himself to death as soon as the mission started.

_________________
Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane

IthilanorStPete · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:

Besides, were the lookouts even close enough to the main wildling camp to give an alarm?

_________________
-Ithy

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."
-The Necronomicon

"Once you truly realize that humanity is a dead end, the only way out is to stop being human."
-H. P. Lovecraft

Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

They had a horn. The man Stonesnake jumped tried to blow it.

IthilanorStPete · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

IthilanorStPete wrote:

even close enough to the main wildling camp to give an alarm?

By that, I meant were they close enough for the horn to be distinctly heard?

_________________
-Ithy

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."
-The Necronomicon

"Once you truly realize that humanity is a dead end, the only way out is to stop being human."
-H. P. Lovecraft

Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

I would expect that they probably had multiple look out camps who would relay the blowing.

IthilanorStPete · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject:

I guess...but I don't remember Quorin's A-Team running into any more.

_________________
-Ithy

"That is not dead which can eternal lie.
And with strange aeons even death may die."
-The Necronomicon

"Once you truly realize that humanity is a dead end, the only way out is to stop being human."
-H. P. Lovecraft

Hodor · hodor! Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 381

They turned back when the eagle spotted them.