Why was Jaqen in Oldtown?

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[whatthefrerejacques]

Rumors of the awakening of magic in Westeros brought him to kings landing. Varys's Little birds led him to travel to the wall to learn about the Others. His debt to Arya side-tracked him to Harrenhal. Meeting Qyburn at Harrenhal led him off to learn about the War of Ice and Fire from Marwyn at the Citadel. Now Sam is his way back to the wall. What do you think?

[kirstenpaff]

So, Bravos has three major seats of power, the Sealord, the Iron Bank, and the Faceless Men. It seems reasonable to assume that these three institutions have at least a working relationship with each other. My theory is that the Faceless Men act as a spy network for the other two in exchange for being allowed to operate in Bravos. No government or bank would be cool with an assassin guild chilling in their backyard, unless they had some sort of deal with them. A lot of the Faceless training and tactics make them really good covert agents (disguises, convincingly lying, detecting lies, etc). I think it is perfectly possible that Jaqen has been on an information gathering mission the entire time he's been in Westeros, and that he was never sent to kill anyone. We know the Crown owes the Iron Bank a fortune, so the Bank would have a vested interest in Westerosi politics, especially after Jon Arryn, who was basically running the place, mysteriously kicked the bucket and was replaced by a relatively unknown Ned Stark. I know you argue that Jaqen was hired by Littlefinger to kill Ned Stark, but I just don't understand why a guy who was capable of assassinating a Hand and King on his own would feel the need to hire super expensive, top tier assassins to take out Ned. If Jaqen was Syrio, then it would make sense for him to agree to train Arya, because it would mean regular access to Ned's quarters and whatever information happened to be sitting around there. Presumably Jaqen's mission changed from monitoring the political situation to chasing down ancient lore as rumors of Daenerys's dragons or the return of the Others spread. Someone back in Bravos probably wanted more information and what better place to get it than the Citadel?

[daniell]

To read "Blood and Fire" or the "Death of Dragons" book. Beyond that it is hard to say, but he seemingly wanted to get closer to Marwyn or the glass candle. If he is after the Candle, he is searching for someone or trying to visit someone in a dream. He seems very calm when Marwyn takes off at the drop of a hat, so my money is he wants the Candle for some reason.

[AndrewK]

Great vid as always Robert. Very much agree the Alchemist in Oldtown was Jaqen in disguise who in turn killed Pate and then assumed that identity ; the evidence & clues for all that in the vid back all that up very convincingly. Normally the FM imo do not have an overarching plan beyond bringing death and often paid massively huge amounts to do that in many cases. But with the magical reemergence in Westeros, their eyes and ears everywhere surely becoming aware of wights / resurrections and the like perverting the natural order of death, especially the Others would be the main concern in that respect. Which imo kicks them into action. 

Oldtown having so much ancient knowledge, the Citadel & Hightowers in particular (Citadel not surprisingly founded and patronized by the Hightowers) leads the FM there for a fact-finding & knowledge mission ; Marwyn being there as well, a rogue archmaester with so much magical knowledge that he embraces and familiarity with dark arcana. For me the FM are figuring out the exact goings on, especially with those subverting death (the Others chief among those and would bring that en masse if they prevail), getting as much info around that and how to eliminate those entities doing so. Surely FM already aware or become aware the Others the main priority to be dealt with in that respect. In this case dragons likely the biggest weapon against such a threat and such the FM would seemingly be learning as much about and assisting that facilitation.

[michaelhooper]

Im sad to say i have given up on ever having any of these questions resolved because ive given up on ever seeing these books

[rachelhithere]

I'm sure it's not that deep, but Jaqen is so intriguing to me and I love backstories- I want to know more about him, but if he's "just" an assassin from a death cult, I'll be ok with that too lol

[marvelerful]

this is what the wait for Winds has done to us. We hold you accountable for this, George! GIMME WINDS NOW I WANNIT NOWWW

[dromankass]

It doesn't matter what I think. I may have my own ideas and theories before I watch these videos, but then I listen, and Robert speaks, and lays out so well and so clearly what he believes is going on, and at the end I am just left thinking ' wow, that is so right, yup, that's exactly what is happening' and I go away happy.

[CharlesBHamlyn]

Wild speculation alert: What if Jaqen is in Old Town, hanging out with that particular group, to ultimately recruit Sarella, ANOTHER young girl, martially skilled and with a penchant for alternate identities?

[devinrai]

Euron Greyjoy has said that "He once held a dragon's egg but he threw it away in the sea". Dragon's egg are very valuable. Why would he throw such a valuable thing in the sea!

We know that He hired a Faceless man to kill his brother Balon. ( Arya encounters a witch that tell her this and Euron also brags at one point).

Since, Balon is the Lord of Iron Islands, faceless men will naturally, charge a lot of money for the assassination.

The theory goes as this - Euron didn't throw the dragons egg. He actually gave it to the faceless men as payment for Balon's murder. Jaqen is in old town searching for an old book on Dragons. He is looking for a way to hatch the dragon egg.

[brettloree]

My theory is that he is there for the book buried in the deepest vaults which describes how to kill dragons.

[MeeraReads]

That’s a very good point about Mirri and Qyburn being the two characters who highlight that they studied with Marwyn. What do you think this means for Dany?

[thenextbondvillainklaussch]

Thank you for all the work you do on these 3 Fantasy Worlds . Listening to your calming voice also helps take my mind off my excruciating constant pain. Thanks man

[veronicatash]

I almost thought I had something to add, then you covered it. Seen many of your videos in the past few days and I think you have earned yourself a doctorate of Westerosi Studies at this point.

[AHersheyHere]

Faceless Man: I need a key to the Tower.
Paet the Apprentice: *doesn't realize that he is the key*

[Jon.A.Scholt]

I think he's there to either get information on or to steal a glass candle or to steal a copy of Septon Barth's book, Dragons, Wyrms and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History. It would make sense the leaders of Braavos, a city founded by slaves escaping Valyria, would be afraid and potentially want to stop a Valyrian Princess with three new dragons and thus turn to that amazing guild of assassins in their city, The Faceless Men. Although that probably wasn't his original reason for being in Westeros since it doesn't fit the time line.

[clownpendotfart]

Someone went into GRRM's earlier manuscript for AFFC and it turned out the Alchemist was trying to obtain a glass candle rather than a key, but it was awkward for Pate to smuggle out something so large & sharp.

We don't know of Jaqen having any target prior to meeting Arya, so one can't really compare how long he's willing to "hang around".

There's no indication that any of the novices at the Citadel were aware of the Others' return prior to Sam himself arriving.

[princesspea]

Your voice just transports me to any world your making videos about I love your channel so much!

[JervisGermane]

I'm afraid to say that the real answer at this point is "George hasn't decided yet."

[luvmusl]

Jaqen is in old town to find GRRM and force him to finish the books