FORESIGHT

Imagine being able to see the future while on the battlefield. When you see the future, you can see every possible outcome and pick and choose which one will take place. When your opponent plans to make a move, you will literally see it coming a mile away and plan a counterattack accordingly. You could come up with strategies that will inflict maximum damage to your opponent while keeping your own losses to a minimum. If you are a military commander with this ability, you will be unbeatable because you would always control the outcome.

THE SINS OF HOUSE LANNISTER

As the television version of Game of Thrones draws closer to ending, I start to realize that House Lannister’s sins are going to catch up to them. Throughout the series both in the books and the show, the Lannisters have committed countless sins against the realm in order to gain power and elevate their status. Now, due to recent events, all those they have wronged are coming for them with fire and vengeance!

For House Stark, the Lannisters perpetrated Ned Stark’s beheading and the Red Wedding. Jaime Lannister crippled Bran Stark, Joffrey abused Sansa Stark throughout her stay at King’s Landing, and the Lannister minion Ramsay Snow killed Rickon Stark. Now the Starks have retaken the North with the Vale behind them. It may only be a matter of time before the Starks renew their efforts to take the Lannisters down now that Tywin Lannister is no longer around to lead them and they don’t have minions like the Freys and Boltons to betray the Starks.

The Tullys are similarly wounded by the Lannister’s sins due to the Red Wedding. Catelyn Stark was murdered while Brynden “Blackfish” Tully was killed during the Second Siege of Riverrun. The current head of House Tully, Edmure Tully, spent years as a prisoner while the status of his son with Roslin Frey is unknown. Now that Walder Frey and two of his prominent sons are dead, Arya Stark may free her uncle and restore him as the Lord of the Riverlands. With his status renewed, Edmure would likely side with the Starks again to seek vengeance.

The people of Dorne were wronged by the Lannisters when their minion, Gregor Clegane, murdered Elia Martell and her children as well as Oberon Martell. With the people of Dorne siding with Daenerys Targaryen, they will finally have a chance at vengeance.

Due to Cersei blowing up the Great Sept of Baelor, House Tyrell lost most of its members. Now that House Tyrell has sided with Daenerys Targaryen, they will also have a chance for vengeance against the blood-stained lion of Casterly Rock. Also, since the Great Sept of Baelor, the center of the Faith of the Seven, destroyed, the entire Andal population will turn against the Lannisters.

There are rumors that Gendry is going to appear next season (finally he stopped rowing). If Gendry comes into contact with Daenerys, it is possible that she could legitimize him as the new head of House Baratheon. The Baratheons were swindled of the Iron Throne by the Lannisters by replacing them with a false dynasty (Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen “Baratheon”). Cersei and Lancel Lannister orchestrated Robert Baratheon’s death to pave the way for House Lannister’s puppet dynasty of false Baratheons. Then they were driven to extinction by the Lannisters’ Bolton minions in Season 5. If Daenerys legitimizes Gendry as a Baratheon and rallies the remaining Stormland forces behind him, then House Baratheon will rise again for revenge.

Finally, Daenerys Targaryen lost most of her family to the Lannisters. Jaime Lannister murdered her father even though he did so with good intentions. Then the Lannister minion Gregor Clegane murdered her niece, nephew, and sister-in-law. Most crucial of all is that House Targaryen lost their claim to the Iron Throne, everything they spent three hundred years to build, taken from them by the Lannisters. To add further insult to injury, Cersei destroyed the Great Sept, which was named after Daenerys’s ancestor Baelor the Blessed. Now that Daenerys is on her way to reconquer the Seven Kingdoms, House Targaryen will have their revenge with interest.

Overall, House Lannister is finally in a position to pay for their countless crimes against the realm. Virtually, everyone has turned against them. At the height of their reign, the possibility of House Lannister paying for their sins was unlikely due to the political power they held. Now, they are reduced to the weakest faction in the War of the Five Kings with a very slim chance of survival. It also has a sense of karma because the Lannisters did so many terrible things to people both directly and indirectly that the amount of bad karma they are about to receive will be explosive! In the end, everything balances out.

UK MONARCHS

I did research on various English monarchs throughout history and found one monarch that had the most children, one who married the most, and one who ruled the longest. The monarch who had the most children was Henry I, who had a grand total of 29 children (5 legitimate)! The monarch who married the most was Henry VIII, who had six wives in his lifetime! The monarch who ruled the longest is the current one, Elizabeth II, who ruled for almost 65 years and counting! I am thinking of including similar features from all three of these monarchs into the victorious king in my fantasy series.

THE ULTIMATE ARMY

As a superhero and science fiction fan, I always loved the idea of super-soldiers. Due to this, imagine an entire army of super-soldiers; tens of thousands strong! What if each soldier in this army was strong enough to lift several tons, durable enough to withstand bombs and anti-tank bullets, fast enough to outrun a motorcycle, and smart enough to outmaneuver enemy forces. It would be like having an entire army of Captain Americas! I am thinking of applying this idea in my sequel spin-off of The Young Guardians Series. I am getting chills just thinking about the chaos and mayhem such an army would unleash!

FILM REVIEW: THE CALL OF CTHULHU

I saw a silent film from 2005 called The Call of Cthulhu, which was based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft. I am not usually a fan of silent films because I have to constantly pause to read the subtitles and the special effects are cheesy, but this film was different. Even though it had the subtitles and cheesy special effects, the story behind it all was chilling beyond measure. It revolved around a cult who worshipped a beast that was so evil and terrifying that all who see it go mad with fear! If you are into silent films, monsters, and mysteries, then this is the film for you.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2016!!!

This is the costume I will wear on Halloween as I hand out candy to unsuspecting trick-or-treaters! Also, I will indulge in a horror movie marathon that includes classics like Hellraiser, Saw, Mimic, and many others. Every Halloween, I feel like I psychological transform into someone darker and scarier like a werewolf during a full moon. The fact that my ancestors invented Halloween through the festival of Samhain could explain why I have a natural affinity for this holiday when ghosts and goblins emerge from the shadows. Happy Halloween!

A POWER FIT FOR A KING

While brainstorming on the characteristics of the rival kings in my fantasy series, I realized that I am having trouble on one particular aspect. As I mentioned in my previous post, there will be magical swords in my fantasy series that each have their own unique power. However, the trouble I am having is trying to decide on what power would be fit for a king. If any one has any suggestions, I would be eternally grateful. Please share your ideas.

CORONATION

Every monarch is crowned by an elaborate ceremony called a coronation. This ceremony is full of oaths and prayer. I will be drawing inspiration from past coronations for my fantasy series. My fantasy series will feature three separate coronations: one for each of my rival kings and one for the king who will ultimately win the war for the throne.

ROYAL WEDDINGS

After experiencing two weddings in one lifetime, I adore the idea of two lovers getting married. By combining those experiences with the royal wedding of Prince William and Lady Katherine for inspiration, I plan to depict the royal weddings of the two kings in my fantasy series. Both weddings will have all of the ceremony fit for a king, but their spouses will come from opposite backgrounds, which will play a big role in their future rivalry.

FLANGED MACE

Another common medieval weapon was the mace, which was a powerful bludgeoning weapon that was strong enough to crush armor with a single swing. I prefer the flanged design like the one in this picture instead of the spiked design because the flanged design could cause more damage to armor than the spiked design. I am thinking of making it the weapon of choice of one of the major characters in my fantasy, who is the heir of a long lineage of formidable knights.