SoST Quarterfinals: Ned Stark vs Jaime Lannister

[Wiggum]

Voting ends Saturday

[Winters_Sorrow]

My first initial response was to say "Ned's dead, baby" and go for Jaime, but I had second thoughts. I just think, in the books, Ned has faced a sterner test and survived than Jaime did. Jaime's only proper battle is with Brienne (draw) and when he was ambushed in the whispering woods. Ok he fought well and killed a few of Karstark's lot but do they match up against a protracted war and facing 3 of the mightest knights in the Kingdom?
I think not - surprisingly, for me, Ned wins this one
Plus Jaime is rash & easily goaded whereas I think Ned would be calm & wait for his opponent to screw up or overcommit himself.

[Snagas Tender Blades]

I had to go with Jaime, he was portrayed as one of the best fighters in the land.

[Aegon the Unworthy]

Gah! and I do mean Gah!

Not to disagree on too personal a level with the penguin of death...(thats the typical "no offense, but" line)

Sure Ned survived a battle as the leader of men, and yes he survived the Tower of Joy as a member of 7 vs 3, but this is Jaime Lannister, considered to be the finest sword in the Kingdom at one time....the thought of this even being a contest is ludicrious....Ned has survived thus far on fan popularity and weak opponents, Jaime is as popular and more skilled....where is the question?

The truth of the matter is I would like Ned to be more skilled as an armsmen but the truth of the matter is he works better as a leader. The type of man whom others would follow based on his character and in spite of his martial prowess. Allow him to end this run with dignity in the tournament....he deserves to lose here.

[TK-421]

Oh come on SW...I like Ned alot and think he would of lasted long in a tournament but against the best swordsman in all Westeros...really...if Ned wins this one, I will protest loudly.

[Aegon the Unworthy]

Just for the record....I should never post drunk.

Theres a life lesson there somewhere....

[Boaz]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

My first initial response was to say "Ned's dead, baby"

Good one.

Cersei: Who's sword is this?
Jaime: It's Valyrian Steel, baby.
Cersei: Who's Valyrian Steel is this?
Jaime: It's Ned's.
Cersei: Who's Ned?
Jaime: Ned's dead, baby. Ned's dead.

Originally Posted by Aegon the Unworthy

I should never post drunk.

Join the club.

[KiwiBird]

Lets hope Eddard is finally out of it, he should've been 2 rounds ago.

[devilsgrin]

While i too voted for Jaime, i would like to second some of WSs comments regarding Jaime's true ability...
We really have no way to guage Jaime's combat ability. There are few instances of his actually showing his skill, and much of his legend in based on victories in tourneys 15 years and more prior to AGOT, and not in combat.
It seems to me that Jaime has faced true combat only rarely. And, for instance, in the Whispering Wood - he was defeated, in combat and as a leader. Yes he killed a bunch of soldiers, but he still ended up losing... Not to mention losing to Brienne...

[KiwiBird]

he squired well during the war of the ninepenny kings, he fought well against brienne after months of prison, from statements we can deduct he was considered one of the best, won many tournament victories,..

As for the whispering wood, we heard from tywin that he did nothing wrong, the siege could only be succesful like that and he was not defeated per se, he defeated the karstark force before an overwhelming force (if i remember correctly ) forced him to surrender., So yes he was defeated, but not in combat.

[Faceless Woman]

Losing to Brienne? He was manacled, far from peak physical condition, and she came very close to beating him. Even so, I take this more as a compliment to Brienne than an insult to Jaime.

I second W_S's first response: Ned's dead, baby, Ned's dead.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Originally Posted by KiwiBird

As for the whispering wood, we heard from tywin that he did nothing wrong, the siege could only be succesful like that and he was not defeated per se, he defeated the karstark force before an overwhelming force (if i remember correctly ) forced him to surrender., So yes he was defeated, but not in combat.

Looks like Ned is dead, but Jaime was defeated in the whispering woods and did not defeat a seperate Karstark force, the entire Northern host fell upon his line in ambush as it was strung out in the woods with no outriders.
Similar to how we imagine Varus' Romans legions to have been wiped out in Germania in fact.
Arrogance makes even the most gifted vulnerable

[Weasel Soup]

Yes... Ned Im afraid Winter has come.

[TomServo]

I love Ned. I also am in the camp of him being an excellent fighter. But Jaime is just too good for him. In a popularity contest I'd vote for Ned, but in a duel its the Lannister who wins this one.

[TomServo]

hmm maybe we should have a who is your favorite character tournament here sometime