Recaps

Suleiman crushed the Ironborn at Raventree Hall and Seaguard while consolidating his influence over the Riverlands. After Eddard Stark arrived, Suleiman secured his agreement and demonstrated the Riverlanders’ strength before the Northern soldiers.

• Suleiman forced the captured Ironborn to choose conversion or death, then secured Lymond Lychester’s support for his plans to reshape the Riverlands after Hoster Tully’s death.
• Suleiman trapped Victarion Greyjoy’s fleet at Raventree Hall, rejected Rodrik Harlaw’s offer, and defeated the divided Ironborn army, killing Victarion and capturing Lord Harlaw.
• Suleiman ordered captured Ironborn leaders and prisoners executed despite Tytos Blackwood’s objections, then distributed spoils and prepared to destroy the Ironborn at Seaguard.
• Suleiman beheaded Aeron Greyjoy after a storm failed to kill him, while Lymond took Maron Greyjoy to Harrenhal to prepare for Robert Baratheon’s arrival.
• With House Frey’s support, Suleiman besieged Seaguard, used a hidden tunnel to open its gate, and ordered the surviving Ironborn displayed on wooden frames along the shore.
• Eddard Stark arrived at Seaguard and challenged Suleiman over the executed Ironborn, then asked him to protect his family on their journey to Riverrun.
• After Jon Umber’s men fought Suleiman’s retainers, Suleiman arranged a contest that the Riverlanders won two bouts to one, and Eddard watched and nodded.

Suleiman maneuvered to raise House Lychester over House Tully while clashing with Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn, and Robert Baratheon over war, loyalty, and rule. The arc ended with Robert ordering Jon Arryn to accept a great council if the Riverlands lords proposed one at Suleiman’s knighting ceremony.

• Suleiman escorted Lady Stark and her children to Riverrun, helped Dain Deddings claim his inheritance, and arranged for House Pyle’s lands to reward Dain’s knights.
• At Harrenhal, Suleiman gave Red Rain to Robert Baratheon, who announced a major tourney, while Suleiman confronted Jaime Lannister over his role in the sack of King’s Landing.
• Suleiman failed to persuade Eddard Stark to attend the tourney and proposed eliminating the Ironborn, but Eddard rejected his plans for poisoning or extermination.
• Suleiman challenged Jonos Bracken to trial by combat over Ironborn spoils and told Lymond Lychester that he intended to rule the Seven Kingdoms.
• Robin Leger attacked Lymond at Eddard Stark’s feast, and Bryn seized Edmure Tully as a hostage before Suleiman and Lymond staged a reconciliation with Eddard.
• Suleiman turned Edmure’s offer to serve Lymond as a squire into influence over House Tully, while Jon Arryn and Robert argued over whether House Tully should retain power in the Riverlands.
• Suleiman backed Lymond’s bid for power and urged him to seek support from Reach and Dornish nobles, while Jon Arryn privately tried to keep Riverlands lords loyal to House Tully.
• Suleiman advised Lymond to expose Jon Arryn’s secret bargains, and Robert confronted Jon before ordering him to accept a great council if the Riverlands lords proposed one at Suleiman’s knighting ceremony.

Suleiman secured royal favor and helped Lymond Lychester take control of the Riverlands, then built a new military, administrative, and commercial order around Oldstones. The arc left House Lychester empowering local farmers and merchants while alarming Petyr Baelish and the established trading interests.

• Suleiman proposed royal betting pools to fund Tourneys, impressed Robert Baratheon with a flaming sword, and won knighthood after promising to strengthen the crown’s authority in the Riverlands.
• Robert Baratheon appointed Lymond Lychester Governor of the Trident, and Suleiman became Lymond’s adopted son while being denied inheritance rights.
• Suleiman persuaded Lymond to build real authority by using eastern lords, returning refugees, and royal authorization to bring the Riverlands under House Lychester’s control, while revealing that he ultimately sought the Iron Throne.
• Suleiman’s conflict with Vale nobles escalated into a Trial of Seven, where Bryn killed Benedar Belmore, Jaime Lannister killed Lyn Corbray, and Suleiman’s champions defeated the Vale’s team.
• Suleiman turned free knights and veteran soldiers into landholding Junkers, established military obligations and the Long Retainer Guard, and began rebuilding Oldstones as House Lychester’s capital.
• Suleiman appointed Roslyn and Bana as county governors, reorganized Lymond’s administration and guards, and ordered Evelyn’s network to infiltrate noble territories and train orphaned children as spies and assassins.
• Suleiman directed the Governor’s Office to seize control of key trades and use price stabilization, then granted six merchant families exclusive trading rights in return for fees, profits, and support for Oldstones.
• Suleiman’s officials undermined creditors and rival merchants as Roslyn punished violent debt collection and Bock Hewen burned debt ledgers, while Petyr Baelish warned that House Lychester’s new monopoly guild could unsettle Riverlands commerce.

Suleiman exploited the Faith’s uprising and the Riverlands lords’ conspiracy to seize control of the region and lead a rebellion against Robert Baratheon. His forces ambushed Tywin Lannister’s army, but Tywin survived and ordered a counterattack as the fighting spread.

• Suleiman rejected the Faith’s offer to make House Lychester its champion, arrested Septon Arlan, and faced a rebellion spreading through King’s Landing and the Riverlands.
• The Faith declared Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn stripped of their faith and proclaimed the Second Faith Militant Uprising, while Jon Arryn branded House Lychester traitors.
• Suleiman overpowered Walter Whent’s challenge at Harrenhal, asserted control of the Riverlands army, and rallied its soldiers with a forged royal order.
• Suleiman ordered Rosso Brune’s cavalry to ambush Tywin Lannister’s force while Toman led the main army toward King’s Landing.
• Suleiman and Bryn attacked the Lannister camp from two directions, and Tywin Lannister was wounded as Kevan Lannister and Tyrion Lannister tried to contain the assault.
• Kevan Lannister sent Tyrion south and was killed, while Bryn displayed Kevan’s body in Tywin’s armor and broke the Westerlands army’s morale.
• Tywin Lannister survived the attack and ordered Stafford Lannister to regroup the army, summon reinforcements, send the Mountain into the Riverlands, and seek Jaime’s release.