'What ifs' in A Song of Ice and Fire

[Koopa]

What if Jon Snow had been born with silvergold hair and purple eyes....

 

[Narkalui]

I guess that Ned would recognise that keeping him would be far too dangerous. Maybe send him to Braavos? I don't know...

 

[Judderman]

What if Bran had been killed in the tower and not pushed out?

 

[Koopa]

To be honest, i don't feel Bran has added much to the story so far, he helped Jon escape from the wildlings which helped the NW to defend the Wall. Maybe whispered a bit.. . I'm guessing he's involvement will grow bigger, but aside from that... . I mean Ned would probably still go to KL regardless or wether Bran lived or died from that fall.

 

[Narkalui]

There'd be no knife man left behind to finish him off, Cat never travels to Kingslanding or arrests Tyrion. Tywin doesn't invade the Riverlands, Jaime doesn't kill Ned's men or break Ned's leg, Ned sails the next day to Dragonstone for a frank and open conversation with Stannis then Ned goes home. Would Robert still go hunting? I'm pretty sure he only went because he was exasperated with the squabbling over Tyrion's arrest so I'm going to say no. Peace reigns a while longer...

 

[Koopa]

war was always on the table. catelyn just increased the timing.

 

[Narkalui]

Exactly, that's what Varys and Illyrio were discussing in the secret passage

 

[Young stormlord]

Oooh, I have a good one. What if Tyrion told Tywin there was an attempt on his life coming from Littlefinger? Tywin was quite open to "heads pikes walls" route as he sent Tyrion to KL to be the hand in his stead.

In short, what would have happened if Pycelle, Littlefinger and Varys were either dead or exiled/in hiding thanks to Tyrion being on a war path?

 

[Young stormlord]

On reread, found a new one that I think would be great for this thread.

In ACOK, Arya (hiding as Nan) asks Bolton if he was going to take her with him once he leaves Harrenhall. He refuses.
What changes if Roose Bolton took Arya with him once he left Harrenhall? Or if he just said yes.

Gendry and Hot Pie might be in trouble or not, because the cook and Ben Blackthumb survived both Vargo Hoat and Gregor Clegane.

But it is Arya's story that changes a lot. Arya is right there at the Harrenhall while Roose is plotting with Walder Frey in preparations for the Red Wedding. She sees every one of those preparations, because she works as a messenger for Bolton and not just a cup-bearer. If she is able to sneak a paragraph into one of the messages to Rob and Catelyn, Catelyn never sets Jaime free. Which means Karstarks are still on Rob's side, Jaime has never lost his hand and Arya is right there at The Twins laters, in Bolton's livery and meets with her family before the wedding.

The wedding is no longer red. Rob apologizes to Walder Frey and there is a double wedding, Edmure marries Roslyn and Arya marries Elmar Frey (Walder Frey's youngest son,as originally planned). On the other hand, Arya never joins Faceless Men or meets the Hound, so Hound never gets his redemption.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Gendry should have become king. Neither the Lannisters nor the Starks get to sit on the throne - which keeps both sides happy - and a fair, wise ruler (who doesn't want the job, and is therefore the perfect choice) gets to be king.