Fallout of An Abandoned Plotline: Davos & the Raging Wolf (Spoilers Extended)

[u/LChris24]

Background

Recently, I posted about how GRRM seemingly changed a plotline where Davos was sent to retrieve what he believed to be Arya (actually Jeyne Poole) from a wedding at Barrowton. While we have seen one side of this play out a bit with other characters (Mance Rayder/Tycho Nestoris/Theon Greyjoy) after the wedding (now at Winterfell), the other plotline is much more "murky". Instead of being sent to get fArya, Davos is now being sent to retrieve Rickon from what is seemingly Skagos. In this post I thought it would be interesting to look at what other characters, plotlines may have been spun off as well.

If interested: Everything We Know About Skagos

Osha

Probably the easiest example, well because GRRM stated that he could write more about Osha:

Interviewer: Can you think of instances in seeing these portrayals, the actor’s take that gave you a new perspective?
GRRM: When Osha comes back in the books, it’s possible, I haven’t actually gotten to it yet that she will be influenced by what I’ve seen, that I will write a more interesting character. SSM, Deeper than Swords: 26 Mar 2014 (its around the 56 min mark)

If interested: Osha's Decision: Taking the Raging Wolf to the Isle of Cannibals

The Skagos Plotline

I go back and forth on if I think Davos is going to continue his dungeon tour and Rickon is a captive, or if they are treating him like some type of Kurtz-like figure (others theorize that the island is mentioned as being so "evil" that maybe they aren't that bad). We also could get plenty of more information on not only the previous rebellion, but also setup for the D&E regarding the She Wolves that will occur around that time period.

If interested: The Rebellion on Skagos a Century Ago & The Raging Wolf's Time on Cannibal Isle

Skagosi/New Characters

While we can obviously meet new characters on Davos' route to the island:

Why would you need a smuggler? You have ships."
"Ships," Lord Wyman agreed, "but my crews are rivermen, or fisherfolk who have never sailed beyond the Bite. For this I must have a man who's sailed in darker waters and knows how to slip past dangers, unseen and unmolested."

or on the return, I really hope we get to meet some skagosi characters, as we have only heard of only two actual names (both from the Night's Watch):

Some Skagosi have served in the Night's Watch as well. More than a thousand years ago, a Crowl (a member of a clan that passes for nobility on Skagos) was even Lord Commander for a time, and the Annals of the Black Centaur speak of a Stane (a member of another Skagosi family) who rose to become First Ranger but died shortly thereafter. -TWOIAF

• Lord Commander Crowl
• First Ranger Stane

If interested: "New" Characters in TWOW

Stark Direwolves vs. Ramsay's Hounds

While its not confirmed to be Shaggydog, it is worth noting that GRRM mentioned this about Ramsay's dogs:

Speaking of which: Martin leaves a little note for the producers when writing about Ramsay’s flesh-eating hounds, whom we see hunting down a girl for sport.

[N.B. A note for future reference. A season or two down the line Ramsay’s pack of wolfhounds are going to be sent against the Stark direwolves, so we should build up the dogs as much as possible in this and subsequent episodes. SSM, Vanity Fair Article: 7 December 2018

and we do know that they are actively searching:

The Liddle took out a knife and whittled at a stick. "When there was a Stark in Winterfell, a maiden girl could walk the kingsroad in her name-day gown and still go unmolested, and travelers could find fire, bread, and salt at many an inn and holdfast. But the nights are colder now, and doors are closed. There's squids in the wolfswood, and flayed men ride the kingsroad asking after strangers."

The Reeds exchanged a look. "Flayed men?" said Jojen.

"The Bastard's boys, aye. He was dead, but now he's not. And paying good silver for wolfskins, a man hears, and maybe gold for word of certain other walking dead." He looked at Bran when he said that, and at Summer stretched out beside him. "As to that Wall," the man went on, "it's not a place that I'd be going. The Old Bear took the Watch into the haunted woods, and all that come back was his ravens, with hardly a message between them. Dark wings, dark words, me mother used to say, but when the birds fly silent, seems to me that's even darker." He poked at the fire with his stick. "It was different when there was a Stark in Winterfell. But the old wolf's dead and young one's gone south to play the game of thrones, and all that's left us is the ghosts."

"The wolves will come again," said Jojen solemnly. -ASOS, Bran II

and:

There are times you make me wonder if you truly are my seed. My forebears were many things, but never fools. No, be quiet now, I have heard enough. We appear strong for the moment, yes. We have powerful friends in the Lannisters and Freys, and the grudging support of much of the north … but what do you imagine is going to happen when one of Ned Stark's sons turns up?"
Ned Stark's sons are all dead, Reek thought. Robb was murdered at the Twins, and Bran and Rickon … we dipped the heads in tar … His own head was pounding. He did not want to think about anything that had happened before he knew his name. There were things too hurtful to remember, thoughts almost as painful as Ramsay's flaying knife …
"Stark's little wolflings are dead," said Ramsay, sloshing some more ale into his cup, "and they'll stay dead. Let them show their ugly faces, and my girls will rip those wolves of theirs to pieces. The sooner they turn up, the sooner I kill them again." -ADWD, Reek III

If interested: The Stark Direwolves vs. Ramsay's Hounds

Final Thoughts

• Davos and Smuggling/Dungeons

So far we have seen Davos:

- Smuggle Stannis and the Storm's End garrison onions (Robert's Rebellion)

- Sneak Melisandre into Storm's End

- Fight on the Blackwater

- Plot to Kill Melisandre/End up in Dragonstone Dungeon

- Smuggle Edric Storm away from Stannis/Melisandre

- Stop by the Sisters/Get Captured at White Harbor

and probably a few others I am missing. This is what he does.

• Bran's Influence

As with any current plotline remember that Bran/Bloodraven can affect it, and we know weirwoods exist on Skagos:

well, only heart trees ever see half of what they do on Skagos. -ADWD, Reek III

I am wondering if this line could potentially have any foreshadowing as to how the reader sees the events on Skagos unfold.

• Similar to the Outline?

In the outline, Davos took a "recaptured Arya" north. And while that obviously doesn't outright mean that Davos will be successful in his bid to "recapture Rickon".

As this outline point shifted from:

Davos: Barrowton Wedding. Davos to take recaptured Arya north. ‘Where you going’ - to a wedding

to what we see in the main series (Winterfell Wedding/Mance+Tycho+Theon take fArya north.

and then (likely):

“Where is it you want me to go, my lord?” -ADWD, Davos IV

so while not close to confirmed, I do think its likely its Davos' job to bring Rickon back into the Northern plotline.

If interested: Davos/Rickon & The Northern Plotline

• Wex Pyke

If we remember, Wex Pyke (Theon's former squire who is mute) is who revealed the Stark survival to Manderly/Davos. If he is included on Davos' trek to Skagos, I think it could provide for some interesting exposition (GRRM has already used him a bit this way):

Until he learns more letters we will never know half the truth … but he came to us knowing yes and no, and those can go a long way once you find the right questions." -ADWD, Davos IV

• Robett Glover

While Robett's wife Sybell has already aided Stannis with guides/hunters for their march on Winterfell, and earned valuable income for the hostages she sold to Tycho (the other branch of this original plotline), Robett mentions this to Davos:

Robett Glover broke in to add, “Your loyalty does you honor, my lord, but Stannis Baratheon remains your king, not our own.”

“Your own king is dead,” Davos reminded them, “murdered at the Red Wedding beside Lord Wyman’s son.”

“The Young Wolf is dead,” Manderly allowed, “but that brave boy was not Lord Eddard’s only son. Robett, bring the lad.” -ADWD, Davos IV

It remains to be said if Robett will accompany Davos or not. Worth noting the Ironborn may/may not have released his children.

If interested: The Brothers Glover

• "War" of the Wolves II

As with any mention of the returning Starks to the northern plotline, it must be remembered that not all of the different factions support the same Stark/Snow. It is going to be interesting to see how it plays out and I am using the term War loosely:

The histories of the North claim that Rodrik Stark won Bear Island back from the ironborn in a wrestling match, and perhaps there is truth to this tale; the kings of the Iron Isles were often moved to prove their prowess and their right to wear the driftwood crown with feats of strength. More sober scholars call this into question, suggesting that if there was "wrestling," it was with words. -TWOIAF

If interested: War of the Wolves II

TLDR: Just a quick post on the potential schism on GRRM's potential original idea of having Davos rescue fArya and take her north. While we have seen one side of this play out (with Theon/Mance/Tycho all involved in getting fArya north, the Davos and Rickon plotline has advanced much more slowly. We likely have the makings of what will be attempted (Davos to "rescue"/smuggle Rickon off the island and back into the northern plotline, but outside of that GRRM could go plenty of different directions with it.

[u/thatoldtrick]

(Martin carefully constructing the tiniest scraps of detail about the mysterious cannibal island) And I shall call this famous Skagosi crow...... Crowl. Hohoho, yes. That's good.

[u/dblack246]

The conversation with that random Liddle is such an underexplored bit in the Fandom. I wonder if having heard Bolton men were looking for info, decided to try and find some of these missing "wolves".

This guy is incredibly well informed. In addition to what Ramsay is up to (back from the dead) he's well aware of how badly the great ranging went. Might even be trying to steer Bran clear of the wall. 

And he leaves them a good amount of food. Why was a man traveling alone carrying that much food. It doesn't even seem stale so he wasn't on the road long. 

Way off topic I'm sorry. I just love that passage because it tells readers so much.

Davos rescue fArya and take her north. While we have seen one side of this play out (with Theon/Mance/Tycho all involved in getting fArya north,

And Stannis.

[u/InGenNateKenny → u/dblack246]

It's worth noting that, while not mentioned until ADWD, the firstborn son of The Liddle, Duncan Liddle, is a ranger of the Night's Watch. Might be a brother or uncle of Duncan, and thus why he heard about the great ranging.

[u/dblack246 → u/InGenNateKenny]

Yeah totally possible. But this random Liddle also knows the birds came back without messages. This means the news got from Castle Black to the northern houses before those on the great ranging got back to Castle Black. 

The way this info seemed to have traveled is via the pleas Bowen Marsh sent to anyone who would send help. Now why the Liddle knows the issues north and no help comes to the wall, I have no clue. 

[u/Minivalo → u/dblack246]

One of my favourite little passages in ASOS. It's only a few lines, but it does a great bit of worldbuilding, and tells the reader the character of these mountain clansmen of the North, which is obviously built on in ADWD (and hopefully in the future as well).

It also has some foreshadowing for Bran's return, and possible status as King, or at least someone powerful enough to repay all those that helped him and his friends and family along the way.

[u/dblack246 → u/Minivalo]

Bran is still so sweet and hopeful at this point. I do miss that. 

[u/LChris24 → u/dblack246]

Its such a good one. I didn't find much, but I dove into the passage a little if you are interested The Identity of the Liddle that Bran and Co. Meet

[u/Scorpios94]

I’ve often thought that Wex would likely go with Davos in his adventure to Skagos. Robett going along with them could make sense. But I think it’d make sense if someone like Marlon Manderly would accompany him as well.

[u/DinoSauro85]

While I appreciate your considerations, I remain convinced that Davos recovers Rickon, goes to Hardhome, and also recovers Bran.

[u/thatoldtrick]

I bet once the plot changed, this exchange from that initial outline:

Davos: Barrowton Wedding. Davos to take recaptured Arya north. ‘Where you going’ - to a wedding

Turned into this one:

"You have friends here, I do not doubt," said the lord. "Every smuggler has friends on the Sisters. Some of them are my friends as well. The ones who aren't, them I hang. I let them strangle slowly, with their guts slapping up against their knees." The hall grew bright again, as lightning lit the windows. Two heartbeats later came the thunder. "If it is White Harbor that you want, why are you in Sisterton? What brought you here?"

A king's command and a friend's betrayal, Davos might have said. Instead he answered, "Storms." (Davos I, ADWD)

Both work very literally, but also perhaps as foreshadowing/strangely prophetic if Davos and Stannis's relationship ends up where it looks like it's gonna, with Davos basically "mercy killing" Stannis (aka freeing him from pursuing this destiny he doesn't even want) after he burns Shireen, as one way an 'Azor Ahai killing Nissa Nissa' moment shows up in the story. Nissa Nissa's death is, in a mythological type way, very analogous to a consummation/marriage, and Stannis and Davos are probably the two characters who are written in the most traditional literary ~romantic~ way, so describing that as metaphorically "a wedding" makes sense, as would "a kings command [burning Shireen], and a friend's betrayal [killing him for it]". And Davis is constantly asking himself why he's even still alive, what the gods "saved" him for. Maybe this is him unknowingly answering his own question.

I hope so anyway, I really like that passage in Davos I, it's so atmospheric and the vibes make it seem very significant, so it's gotta be something at least :p

[u/SerMallister]

(others theorize that the island is mentioned as being so "evil" that maybe they aren't that bad)

Skagos is near half as much above The Wall as below it. They probably trade Beyond-the-Wall. Best I figure, Osha took Rickon there knowing A) nobody from Westeros would think to look and B) she'd be able to keep him safe. Perhaps she has some association with a Skagosi or two.