Recaps

Aermir helped Robert’s forces conquer the Iron Islands, using magic and daring plans to break the defenses of Pyke. After the victory, he helped reshape the islands’ rule and defeated Lord Royce in a joust, leaving Lord Stark watching with a dark expression.

• Joffrey tried to ride Sith, and she broke his nose with her tail, and Emre swore to Lord Stark that he would not harm Robert or his relatives at court.
• Emre appeared as the Druid, killed Mandon Moore with lightning, and forced Robert to learn that Joffrey had tried to ride Sith, and Robert released her and the Druid flew away.
• Aermir helped the Northern forces defeat the Ironborn at sea and on the islands, then defeated Harras Harlaw and Boremund Harlaw in duels before taking House Harlaw’s men into custody.
• Aermir and his companions infiltrated Pyke through a rubbish chute and lowered the drawbridge, allowing the allied armies to storm the castle and force Balon Greyjoy to surrender.
• Robert spared Balon after Ned and Lord Royce intervened, while Aermir healed the wounded and later argued that Balon’s punishment would not end the Ironborn threat.
• Aermir proposed making House Harlaw a rival power to House Greyjoy, and Robert named Rodrik Harlaw ruler over half the Iron Islands.
• At the Lannisport tourney, Aermir wagered Red Rain against Lord Royce’s bronze armor and defeated him after twelve clashes, publicly claiming the armor for the North and the Old Gods.

Aermir won renown at Casterly Rock, returned to Winterfell, and survived a confrontation with Catelyn while revealing the Stark children’s Warg gifts. He built his power around Moat Cailin through the Old Gods, new farms, schools, an army, and trade, while Tywin began planning to approach him.

• Aermir defeated Jaime and won the joust, melee, and archery contests, then declined a title and land in favor of Tobho Mott’s services.
• Aermir returned to Winterfell with Sith, where Catelyn led soldiers against him while he lay unconscious in the Godswood, and Eddard stopped the attack and stripped her of command.
• Aermir threatened Catelyn with his animal familiars, then told Eddard that the Stark children were Wargs and proposed building his base at Moat Cailin.
• Aermir trained the Stark children, recruited followers of the Old Gods, established an owl network beyond the Wall, and developed crops that helped his followers through famine.
• Eddard granted Aermir the title of Lord of Moat Cailin and funds to restore the castle, where Aermir retained Tobho Mott and expanded farming, sanitation, healing, and education.
• Aermir trained and organized his army, built a soap workshop, found metal deposits, created farming villages, and prepared charcoal production while limiting new oaths.
• Tywin learned that his spies could not penetrate Aermir’s strongholds and ordered Gerion to befriend the Druid and contact Aermir, despite advisers dismissing Aermir’s growing force.

Aermir strengthened his northern influence while navigating the Faith’s opposition, House Bolton’s schemes, and his growing ties to the Stark family. He discovered Rickon’s magical sight, began secretly excavating an ancient chamber beneath Winterfell, and ended the stretch with Moon drift port completed and enchanted cloaks made for the Crow Guard.

• Hoster Tully and Edmure discussed the threat Aermir’s fertility magic posed to Riverlands grain trade, while Tywin sent spies to investigate him and Vale lords argued over how to respond.
• Emre demonstrated the Old Gods’ power to a gathering, and lightning killed Ser Harlan and Ser Martin after they challenged him, winning new reverence among witnesses.
• Robert Baratheon’s council weighed Emre’s growing influence, while the High Septon denounced him and Wyman Manderly chose neutrality rather than openly oppose him.
• Aermir trained followers and the Crow Guard, countered Roose Bolton’s rumors with a story of Bolton’s humiliation, and developed seeds and a medicine that cured Red Fever.
• Aermir secretly stirred opposition to Emre on the Sister Islands, arranged surveillance of Lord Sunderland, and expanded plans for Moat Cailin’s enchanted weapons forge.
• Aermir attended Rickon’s Name Day feast, reconnected with the Stark siblings, confronted Theon after his insult, and calmed a fight between Sansa and Dacey.
• Aermir discovered that Rickon could see magical auras and revealed his identity to him, then sought permission from Catelyn and Eddard to foster the boy at Moat Cailin.
• Aermir found a huge carved metal door deep beneath Winterfell but kept the discovery secret, while continuing to investigate the Night’s King and the Others.
• Aermir advanced Northern farming, completed Moon drift port despite Manderly protests, and made enchanted feather cloaks that raised his own speed to 19 and strength to 18.

Aermir used a staged raid to unite the North behind him, then defeated the Three Sisters at sea and on land while drawing the Vale into the conflict. After imposing harsh terms on the islands, he explained that he intended to weaken and control the Vale and Riverlands to protect the North’s future.

• Aermir lured the Sistermen into attacking his ships, then rallied northern lords after the attack on Moon drift port, where he and his forces defeated the raiders.
• Smalljon Umber lost a training duel to Aermir, renounced his claim to Last Hearth, and joined the paladin army as the North prepared for war.
• Aermir gathered a 7,000-man force and used elementals and Rep’s orcas to disable the Three Sisters’ fleet, then sailed for the islands as the North and Vale mobilized.
• Aermir stormed House Stormcliff’s castle on Longsister, compelled the island lords to surrender, and ordered their men to take the black while taking half the island’s food.
• Harrick Greenwood, Jory Flint, and the other generals led Aermir’s troops to defeat a Sistermen ambush, while Jon Arryn resolved to retake the islands with Vale forces.
• Aermir let Vale reinforcements approach, hoping to draw Jon Arryn into committing more troops and weakening House Arryn, while Eddard Stark travelled to seek a diplomatic settlement.
• Aermir told Eddard Snow that the North could face another invasion if it weakened itself fighting the Night’s King, and said he meant to destabilize and control the Vale and Riverlands while preserving House Stark’s rule in the North.