Agree with everything except I WILL say that Ned’s “way” was the common NORTH way. Which is why the North didn’t really fukk with anybody else. Which is why Ned basically said
and peaced out after Robert’s rebellion. The Stark code worked for centuries IN the North.
But Ned should’ve switched his style up the moment he decided to say yes to being Hand Of The King. All that honor and Just shyt went out the door the moment his child got thrown out the window.
I used to think that back when I first read the books but, the ASOIAF purists over on other websites made a good point. Ned learned all that honor stuff from the Arryns when he fostered in the Vale with Robert as kids. Honor, valor and justice is big with them. In the North, it's more of a warrior culture. How else would the Starks have risen to power and conquered people like the Boltons, Umbers and Glovers if they weren't willing to get grimy. In the books, Cregan Stark, an old Stark king came to Kings Landing during the Dance of Dragons and basically wrecked shop for 3 days, murked everybody who was acting dumb and went back home like
Theon Stark, another old Stark king, kept having to deal with Andal Warriors coming over to invade. So, he went to Andalos in Essos, defeated them in battle, brought back their heads and lined them up on the North coast line so they'd remember to think again when they wanted to invade
Honor is important in the North but, they value strength and being a warrior more. Brandon Stark, who was Ned's brother and the real heir to Winterfell....he was with the shyt and that's how most of the Stark lords acted throughout their history. They had honor but, they were quick to fukk people up. None of the pleasantries Ned learned in the South
Word to Lyanna Mormont. If you remember Ned's dad from this clip (starts at 4:12), he was basically like "I aint raise you to be no lil punk...if you gotta fight, make sure you win"
Ned didn't make sure he won
Jon, Arya, Sansa and Bran learned though...you can't be acting all honorable around immoral and corrupted people. You protect the family and your house.
Ned was a good guy though. Top 5 character for me. I damn near threw my book across the room when he got killed in Book 1. GRRM is an a$$hole for making you care about characters only to have them get did dirty like that. But yea, the Northerners respected Ned because he was so fair and just with them. But in war time, you got to be willing to get grimy. If he was so concerned about the kids, he could've had them sent to the Free Cities far from Robert. I won't knock him for it. I just prefer Jon because he took Ned's lessons on honor and righteousness to heart but, he also understood you have to get grimy on these nikkas too. Jon would've realized alot sooner than Ned that Cersei and the Lannisters were not worth reasoning with. Especially after they just pushed your little brother out the window.
Let Littlefinger kill the man you look up to as a father brehs
diluting the Stark loyalty and warrior gene. It was the Tully in Rob what got him killed.
but true
