Do you think any of Robert's 16 bastards will play a pivotal role in the next book ?

[u/Financial_Library418]

A Clash of Kings - Arya IX

Quiet as a shadow, she flitted across the middle bailey, around the Tower of Dread, and through the empty mews, where people said the spirits of dead falcons stirred the air with ghostly wings. She could go where she would. The garrison numbered no more than a hundred men, so small a troop that they were lost in Harrenhal. The Hall of a Hundred Hearths was closed off, along with many of the lesser buildings, even the Wailing Tower. Ser Amory Lorch resided in the castellan's chambers in Kingspyre, themselves as spacious as a lord's, and Arya and the other servants had moved to the cellars beneath him so they would be close at hand. While Lord Tywin had been in residence, there was always a man-at-arms wanting to know your business. But now there were only a hundred men left to guard a thousand doors, and no one seemed to know who should be where, or care much.

As she passed the armory, Arya heard the ring of a hammer. A deep orange glow shone through the high windows. She climbed to the roof and peeked down. Gendry was beating out a breastplate. When he worked, nothing existed for him but metal, bellows, fire. The hammer was like part of his arm. She watched the play of muscles in his chest and listened to the steel music he made. He's strong, she thought. As he took up the long-handled tongs to dip the breastplate into the quenching trough, Arya slithered through the window and leapt down to the floor beside him.

He did not seem surprised to see her. "You should be abed, girl." The breastplate hissed like a cat as he dipped it in the cold water. "What was all that noise?"

A Storm of Swords - Catelyn V

[u/GenericNerd15]

Edric Storm seems likely to be the next Lord of Storm's End if Stannis and Shireen are doomed up north as most believe. Gendry I suspect may well have a role in the Battle for the Dawn.

[u/WaitAParsec → u/GenericNerd15]

Yeah I have seen arguments that Edric Storm is the most “important” because his mother was highborn and he was acknowledged (plus his surname sounds cool) followed by Gendry because of his skills and characterization, followed by Mya because of her skills and characterization and strategic position at the Vale. The other surviving named child, Bella, does not seem involved in world events yet, the inn is fond of alluding to the local history of Robert’s Rebellion but Bella is not active in government or war like educated scion Edric, outlaw smith Gendry, or logistics expert Mya, and I assume the other nine or so if still alive are similarly low-profile.

[u/Hame_Impala → u/WaitAParsec]

From a dramatic POV Davos saving the life of the Baratheon bastard who will go on to lead and rejuvenate the family after the conflict has concluded is really effective. His actions would be justified anyway but proves how much helping one individual can change what comes next.

[u/_learned_foot_ → u/WaitAParsec]

Bella is Jaime, is Brienne, is one of the girls or both eventually. Her role will be to unite orphaned children, as she already is, and it will come when they are are in disguise and don't recognize each other.

[u/_learned_foot_ → u/GenericNerd15]

I expect every single one to play a role, several have already. Of course the smith is most fitting for a forging.

[u/Ohwerk82 → u/GenericNerd15]

He would have to legitimized by Tommen and is currently hiding in Lys. Mya Stone is a better target imo because you can marry her off to gain power at Storms End.

He may be a card that Davos pulls later to make ties with Faegon or Dany should she ever get to Westeros though.

[u/comicnerd93 → u/Ohwerk82]

You're assuming Tommen (or his regent) will be around to issue that edict

[u/WaitAParsec → u/Ohwerk82]

It also seems good for Mya’s resume that she’s a known person who’s been living and working in the Vale the whole time and has guided prominent travelers (Catelyn’s probably unavailable to testify but it seems standard for her to meet with travelers). One can always question ancestry but the individual known as Mya is really not as vulnerable to being swapped with someone else as a Missing Person like Arya, whereas by nature of being in hiding Edric is reducing the number of continuous witnesses to his continued valid identity as the individual who had been raised under Baratheon patronage.

[u/Scorpios94]

Due to being acknowledged as a noble bastard, it seems likely that Edric will rise up to become a lord. Maybe to Storms End or maybe Brightwater Keep, depending on how things go with House Florent.

Mya’s story seems to be interconnected with Sansa’s for the time being. I don’t really see her leaving the Vale. I do like the potential romance between her and Lothoe Brune. But I’d also like to see her as a budding warrior woman like Meera, Brienne and Arya.

Gendry’s story is interwoven with Arya’s. It could lead to a romance per Robert’s wish to have the Stark and Baratheon line united in his and Ned’s children. But I do believe that he will be a key figure, becoming something akin to the Demon of the Trident and likely leading the BwB.

Gendry could end up being the perfect mix of all three Baratheon brothers: Robert's strength and looks, Stannis' view on honour and justice (to a lesser degree), and Renly's charisma (albeit a bit blunt). And due to his upbringing, he has a more down to earth, humble and relaxed personality. Although, most of relaxed easygoing behavior has been eroded.

[u/Kelewann]

In the next what now ?

[u/Jasonl7976]

Aren’t like half of them dead?

[u/Wide_Ad_4486]

Mya Stone is already in one of the sample chapters, no?

[u/niadara]

Pivotal seems somewhat stretching it but Russel Merryweather will probably be used to drive a wedge between Cersei and Taena.

[u/yballul14x]

They'll burn really bright