A song of Ice and fire discussion (spoilers incl A Dance with Dragons)

['thul]

There are two, Joost. The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring. These beings have gone a step further than you in Wheel of Time... They have decided some 6+ years ago that they would not read a single until the last is released.

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Warning: this post is jumpy and long. It will skip back and forth in relation to the parts it covers.

Spoiler

These beings have seen just that connection between wall and citadel, Valarya. It would not be surprising if the Maesters have been tasked specifically with eroding support for the wall. Nor would it be surprising if Maesters over the years assigned to the wall, have been tasked with derailing the watch into caring more about the wildlings than the real threats.

It is clear that the Lannisters to a large degree care not about the wall. Same is probably true in many other families. At the same time, it is clear that the Targaryens did care about the wall, no doubt because they somewhere in their family history knew somewhat of what the wall is all about. This history was probably lost in the rebellion.

These beings have noticed only two of the great families that clearly have not forgotten the purpose of the wall. The Targaryens and the Starks. Targaryens through their supposedly draconic blood and loyalty to dragonkind and the Starks to their intimate connection with the wall.
One of the problems with the wall as a long-time system is that any system utilizing celibacy tends to breed away loyalty. People might stay more loyal and focused at the moment, but over the generations, it will mean a loss of people. You see the same in religions where the priests are required to be celibate. Those with strongest faith, typically those that become priests, are denied reproduction, which means that the strains of greatest faith are snipped off.
If there had been no Starks in Winterfell, then it is possible that the wall by the time of the books would not have been undermanned, but instead unmanned.

These beings have a theory on the further books...
If Daenarys does eventually land with her entire army in Westeros and it is not crushed, then might not the unsullied be the perfect crew to strengthen the wall in the region of numbers? They might not be very individualistic or have any strong leaders, but others could supply that. They would be strength of numbers, whereas the regular watch would be the officers.

Another problem with the watch is that it has over the years become a dumping ground for those that are unwanted, be they murderers, poachers, rapists or otherwise. (another influence of the citadel?)
While this certainly gives some strength, it makes the wall a place almost none wish to go.

One of the reasons used for the celibacy, to avoid a king of the wall popping up and taking up fight against part of the realm is logical, yet still flawed. Wall-kings have still popped up. Instead they should have allowed families, but had strict rules against hereditary roles beyond "steward, ranger, builder, ...". A set of multiple commanders, say three working in a committee, would also have limited the issue of wall-kings. There should also have been a regular tax of the entire realm to supply the wall with materials, be they food, weapons or men.

These beings have a theory on the wildlings as well. Might it be that the first wildlings intentionally went north of the wall when it was built to keep the watch in constant fighting trim and awareness?

Post done. Feel free to rip into it like a freshly caught, tender and juicy riverpig. Use those large teeth.