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Why do Mace Tyrell and Kevin Lannister believe they can beat three dragons? Tyrion makes it clear that even Danny's twenty foot long ones are immune to crossbows, scorpians and mangonals; not to mention that they'll get much bigger. They can only be killed by a lucky shot to the eyes. In flight theres no way of actually beating them and the historical record attests to that. I guess they're thinking in terms of one battle at a time but the reaction seemed way too dismissive and casual. If I were Mace Tyrell I'd be cutting my losses and looking at my sons; not staying on the sinking ship about to explode.

I get the impression it takes centuries for a dragon to get as large as the one Aegon Targaryen rode.

Besides they now know what dragons can do:

- I think a bolt thorwer should be able to kill or injure one.

- Lucky shots to the eyes can happen if you mass enough bowmen.

- Stone throwers throwing bundles of small sharp rocks might shred its wings.

- Shoot the rider.


Just dont expect to do any good with melee troops.

Do they even believe in the return of dragons? It's been almost a year since I read it.

Even if they do believe, it's a mistake born from the idea that having the biggest army will make you the winner. Though the dragons are probably still too young, and "small" to face such an army.

Danny only had her dragons, what, two years and they've went from chicken sized to Skyrim sized. If it took centuries for Aegons dragons to get that big, surely there would have been more than three of them them bred by his ancestors and not just three. The implication is that Aegons dragons were the size recorded at the time and that a Dragons growth slows down in later age.

Tyrion mentions scorpians and mangonals being unable to hurt dannys dragons. scorpians are the massive bolt throwers the romans used and could pierce most any armour easily. mangonals I believe are a kind of tebucket, so small rocks and boulders presumably don't hurt the dragon. Tyrion doesn't mention shredding the wings, so I don't think its actually a factor in the verse.

Plus, a culture that has countless legends about dragons and how they annialated whole armies would lead you to expect a more stunned reaction and dread.

You know that Daenerys is going to be wearing black Valyrian steel plate armour right? This is hinted at because she always imagines herself as Raegar in his armour on her dragon and when presented with some scale armour thinks that even a girl knows that plate offers the best protection. Plus the Dragon will be pointing forward as it flames people, hitting the small woman on the back is pretty difficult I'd imagine.


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Destrado wrote:Do they even believe in the return of dragons? It's been almost a year since I read it.

Even if they do believe, it's a mistake born from the idea that having the biggest army will make you the winner. Though the dragons are probably still too young, and "small" to face such an army.

Yes, Pycelle specifically says that Danny is in Mereen and that there are too many rumours of her three dragons to be discredited. Both Mace and Kevin accept his word casually. Mace dismisses Danny as mad as her father and the dragons as well. Do you think Mace Tyrell really is that much of a fool, or do you think hes only appearing loyal?

Hard to tell, I've never taken Mace for much of a thinker, so it's probably a bit of both. He places too much faith on his money and his army.

Now, mind you, Tyrion mentioned those weapons being unable to hurt Aegon's dragons according to lore, but I still doubt that Daenerys' three dragons could stand up to an army. We'll see that come the next book, if Drogon fights the Dothraki. Though one of the dragons got injured on the pit fight, if I remember correctly?

Destrado wrote:Hard to tell, I've never taken Mace for much of a thinker, so it's probably a bit of both. He places too much faith on his money and his army.

Now, mind you, Tyrion mentioned those weapons being unable to hurt Aegon's dragons according to lore, but I still doubt that Daenerys' three dragons could stand up to an army. We'll see that come the next book, if Drogon fights the Dothraki. Though one of the dragons got injured on the pit fight, if I remember correctly?

The context wasn't Aegons dragons. I don't think modern weapons could put down Aegons dragons. He was refering to the Yunkai army pointing its weapons in case Drogon returned. Whose escape he had just witnessed (not sure if he saw but he would have heard roughly how big) and knew enough lore to garner how tough that dragon was based on his size. From that he remarks that their efforts to kill Drogon if he returned would likely be futile. When Danny can control her dragons in the next book there will be a reckoning for the armies of slaver bay, Qarth and Volantis. I imagine the fire-worshippers would probably revolt once they hear whats happened to their fleet.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Destrado wrote:Hard to tell, I've never taken Mace for much of a thinker, so it's probably a bit of both. He places too much faith on his money and his army.

Now, mind you, Tyrion mentioned those weapons being unable to hurt Aegon's dragons according to lore, but I still doubt that Daenerys' three dragons could stand up to an army. We'll see that come the next book, if Drogon fights the Dothraki. Though one of the dragons got injured on the pit fight, if I remember correctly?

Yeah, thats odd. But the dragons would be in flight and less vulnerable. I think the implication is that small bolt weapons like crossbows don't actually cut thorugh enough flesh n armour like a long spear to a vulnerable part of the neck. It probably went deep enough to actually cut Drogons flesh. His scale hide probably just absorbs the quarrels like pins in a bar of soap, thus doing him no harm.


I think even the average peasent understands that dragons=win, but you've probably hit the nail on the head with Tyrell.

Mace Tyrell is a pompus idiot and a 'yes man' - he'll go along with whatever the Lannisters say and/or do because by himself he's an incredibly weak person.

Kevin Lannister is simply arrogent like all Lannisters. Plus, being 'southerners', the Lannisters as a whole really don't believe in the stories. Remember how easily all of them except for Tyrion so readily dismiss the pleas of the Night's Watch?
To them, the 'Others' are just boogy-men stories used to frighten little children. I can see them adopting the same attitude towards Dany's 'dragons'. They haven't actually seen them, and the tales are highly fanciful, so to the Lannister mindset it's just a story.

Tyrion at least has more wits about him, and physically visiting the Wall and spending time amongst the Black Brothers did open his eyes quite a bit.