Isn't the Prince That Was Promised basically a messianic figure very similar to Azor Ahai?

Azor Ahai being an important aspect of the R'hllor myth.

 

But quite clearly not R'hllor himself.

 

It's not about fixed characterization. It's about looking at them and being able tell that they are ASoIaF version of themselves and not compete OCs. That's a little different from your suggestion that Voldemort could be nothing like the canon version. And since we will not see a gradual transformation of his character he needs to be somehow similar to his original self.

In the original plot bunny Voldemort is an avatar of the Great Other. A god in a mortal form.

 

As a huge fan of both ASOIAF and Harry Potter, I must say I was really wary of this fic in the beginning. The first chapter is really slow, but good nonetheless. The second is great, but the third and fourth are simply additctive. The fifth is just as great, but in a different way.

This an incredible fic, this is just the begging, and I can say that is one of the best I've ever read. If this keep going, I will rank it on the top fics of mine, together with Forests of Valböne, by enembee. Tyrion lashing scene was great, the only thing that throw him off balance are his father an Tysha. But more than everything, he wants his father approval, and being show that he will never get it, always crushes him.

I want yo see how you will develop Aeryn(?), the girl, she has great potential. Wonder how you will portray the Starks too, Jon specially, since most of ASOIAF thinks he is the Prince and all. Last, I will speculate and say the Faceless Man will play a major role. He is their master's chosen after all. A 5/5, no doubt.

 

Prince That Was Promised is believed to be an old Valyrian prophecy, a coming of an hero to "deliver the world from darkness". It's all rather vague.

Azor Ahai however is clear, he's supposed to be reborn to fight the others.

Could be the same prophecy, but they have never been put together in any of the books.

 

Actually, Melisandre has said they are one and the same. Although she's been wrong before, so that's not exactly a smoking gun.

Martin has also implied they refer to the same person in interviews, but it's possible he is intentionally misleading readers.

 

I don't ever recall Melisandre explicitly state she thinks they are the same person. It's been awhile since I've read the books, so I could be wrong. My impression is that no one knows if the two are directly related. What matters is who people think Azor Ahai is. If people find out what Harry can do, and who he eventually is going to fight against, I think they will flock to help. Even if he really isn't the prophetic savior.

 

“Make no mistake, good sers and valiant brothers, the war we’ve come to fight is no petty squabble over lands and honors. Ours is a war for life itself, and should we fail the world dies with us.”

...All of them seemed surprised to hear Maester Aemon murmur, “It is the war for the dawn you speak of, my lady. But where is the prince that was promised?”

“He stands before you,” Melisandre declared, “though you do not have the eyes to see it. Stannis Baratheon is Azor Ahai come again, the warrior of fire.”
--SoS, pg. 884

Melisandre thinks they're the same - or at least that Stannis is both.

Also, both prophecies cite smoke, salt, and bleeding star/s as a sign of the appearance of their respective heroes.

"There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him."
--ACoK, ch. 10

“It is written in prophecy as well. When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone.”
--Melisandre, SoS, pg. 289

"No one ever looked for a girl ... It was a prince that was promised, not a princess. Rhaegar I thought … the smoke was from the fire that devoured Summerhall on the day of his birth, the salt from the tears shed for those who died. He shared my belief when he was young, but later he became persuaded that it was his own son who fulfilled the prophecy, for a comet had been seen above King’s Landing on the night Aegon was conceived, and Rhaegar was certain the bleeding star had to be a comet."

--Maester Aemon, AFfC, ch. 35

The Cinnamon Wind is somewhere off the coast of Dorne as Sam leads a prayer service to mourn the passing of Aemon Targaryen. Xhondo's information on the three dragons had given Maester Aemon a second wind, but it was not enough. Sam recalls some of the ancient maester's words during the sea voyage from Braavos, "No one ever looked for a girl. It was a prince that was promised... Rhaegar, I thought... The error crept in from the translation. Dragons are neither male nor female... Daenerys is the one, born amidst salt and smoke... Lady Melisandre has misread the signs. Stannis has some of the dragon blood in him, yes... Rhaelle, Egg's little girl, she was how they (the Baratheons) came by it... They must send her a maester. Daenerys must be counseled, taught, protected..." Aemon begged Sam to convince the archmaesters of this, and later rambled some of the following (perhaps prophetic) lines: "a glass candle that could not be lit; eggs that would not hatch; the sphinx was the riddle, not the riddler."

--Synopsis for AFfC, ch. 35

 

Dammit, now I'm going to have to finish AFfC. 6 years later. I honestly can't remember why I stopped reading it.

On topic, this story is fantastic. It's got the tone just right and manages to merge the two worlds in an organic fashion. The characterizations are pretty consistent with what I remember of the books and the implications for the plot are manifest. Looking forward to more of this.

5/5

 

Good news for you then. I've only got one scene left to write.

 

So I haven't read anything of the books nor do I watch the show, so I only know tidbits from various wikis and image macros/memes. I was hesitant to read this because I expected to need to know a ton of the lore. Decided to do it on a whim after Aek and Pai were discussing it on IRC and xion puked up a link to this thread.

Holy. Sister. Fucking. Cersheit.

I was utterly absorbed the entire time. The way the bajillion characters are introduced maintains immersion and the narrative is focused, chucking in nods to Martin like the description of all the foods, without sprawling too far. The OCs? are a lovely touch and you've managed to (re)build the world while seamlessly integrating Harry.

The feminist in me wants to throw a shitfit over chapter four in particular, but it was a well executed plot maneuver, and Harry's rage resonated so well it overwhelmed any sort of squeamish reservations about the scene.

One thing I'm grateful for is how Harry is firmly planted in Westeros, not yearning for his halcyon Hogwarts days and viewing everyone as shitty exports from the Potterverse. You're a far better writer than I could imagine for not linking Joffrey to Malfoy, the pair of smug gits.

5*:awesome/5, right up among the ranks of JimChicago's crossovers.

 

Quite likely. I enjoy writing it too much to quit.

Writing a fic isn't quite the same as reading a fic - in my opinion, it's better. No matter how well I describe a scene, or a character, I see it in my head much clearer than I could ever convey with words.

And I love a good story, so it's safe to say I love writing one even more. Unless I get an offer from a publisher to pen my own novel, I don't foresee myself quitting this.

 

Sorry for the derail, but who is JimChicago? I tried googling, but your post is the third result that shows up. Right after a couple of fics for something called Jim and Pam. The idea that there are some great crossovers out there and I'm missing out is killing me.

 

I believe he's referring to LittleChicago, people like to call him Jim.

 

I do agree with Taure - I hope you show a Voldemort changed by his new chance at life. If he's to be evil and/or crazy, so be it, but having a new element to him would make him a very interesting antagonist. I wasn't looking forward to having him as an enemy in this story, but if he were changed just as much as Harry was, I don't think I'd mind it. Even if all you've given him is a new tic (maybe he's become a fullblown pedophile, developed an obsession for crows instead of snakes, found a desire to start up a kingdom, or something?) for us to hate him for.

Actually, I wouldn't mind if more HP characters found their way into the story, as reincarnations. So long as they just didn't retain a majority of their memories? But I suppose that would be a bit much, and I don't know if it would add any positive quality to the story or not.

 

Ick. Ick. Ick. I think that's one of the few ways you could fuck up this story. We've got plenty as it is.

 

We have plenty of characters, for sure, but what I was thinking in my head was - Harry meets a reincarnated Ron, but never realizes it? They have a conversation, and it means something to him, but he can't quite put his finger on it? Small touches like that.

 

I think you had it right the first time. It doesn't really add anything of worth, but at the same time trivializes Harry and Voldemort's reincarnation.

 

Not only do we have plenty of actual characters, we have plenty of reincarnated characters, I'm already leery of the 2nd reincarnated character as it is.