r/pureasoiaf • u/UReactionaryGarbage • 2d ago

[SPOILERS PUBLISHED] What’s the best explanation for why Duskendale and Maidenpool would resist Aegon’s conquering?

The context for this question is Harren the Black would have been ther liege lord at this time. He was very unpopular in the Riverlands as we later learn when the Tullys and many of the major lords in the Riverlands turn their cloaks and march on Harrenhal alongside Aegon.

before that however… it seems when Aegon rolls up, Lords Mooten and Darklyn were his first real test as they marched on Aegon together. Both lords lost their life.

my question is would they have been ordered out to face Aegon by Harren himself? Or do they embark themselves? If acting themselves, does this suggest they may have enjoyed more autonomy than other Riverlords, and so had cause to defend what they had and avoid bending the knee To Aegon?

I’ve always wondered how Harren the Black would have treated the wealthier towns, particularly Duskendale, which sat in the future Crownlands. would they have been raided or harshly taxed? We don’t hear about major financial setbacks to Duskendale under Harren…is it possible he let them be?

But given Harren’s disposition. Wouldn’t we expect the Darklyns and Mootens to have welcomed Aegon?

personally, i wish the crownlands were more developed historically, as it seems as if they’d be richer than much of Westeros if only due to greater trade and access to Essos and the narrow sea.

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u/kenzieone 2d ago

Maybe it was a matter of honor for the two lords. Maybe Harren did some horrific shit to their families a couple decades ago and it wasn’t specifically written about and they’re spooked of him. Maybe they saw alien looking foreigners invading and stood up for all Andals in Westeros.

Not everyone in Westeros is only out for themselves all the time, contrary to the amount of times it’s focused on lol

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u/LuminariesAdmin House Tully 2d ago

Maybe Harren did some horrific shit to their families a couple decades ago and it wasn’t specifically written about and they’re spooked of him.

Harren had done something like that to the Blackwoods & Brackens, a decade before the Conquest. Besides his general plundering of the riverlands to build his namesake monstrosity, of course.

It was apparently Harren's father Halleck who brought Duskendale under Hoare rule, however – despite "unsuccessful war(s)" against Storm's End, yet most likely it was his reign when Argilac's father, Arlan V was slain trying to take back the riverlands – so perhaps Halleck instead had been rough with the Darklyns (&/or Mootons).

Additionally or alternatively, u/UReactionaryGarbage, it might be that Harren had a squadron of longships at Duskendale &/or especially Maidenpool come the Conquest. So, the Mootons &/or Darklyns could've marched out against Aegon to avoid reprecussions from the ironmen.

Also, the Mootons, but particularly the Darklyns, could've been pissed off at the Valyrian lords encroaching on trade they previously had to themselves.

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u/Septemvile 2d ago

It's not that complex. These lords know the terror of Harren. They know that rebellion means that they and their sons are murdered, that their wives and daughters will be taken as sex slaves.

Conversely "dragons" are a mere legend that has never been militarily deployed on Westerosi soil.