ASOIAF Logic Puzzle II: Solution

1.	If all corners contain Wardens during the books and Ned’s column includes only Northmen, it follows that Roose Bolton is in A5.

2.	Everyone in Ned’s diagonal died in a different book. E5 is a corner space, so it must contain a warden. Apart from Ned, Tywin and (arguably) Jon Arryn are the only two Wardens to die during the series so far. If Jon Arryn died in the first book, as one might argue, he still cannot go in E5, since Eddard died in the first book. Therefore, Tywin is in E5.

3.	Every parent in the quiz is adjacent to their eldest living child. Since everyone besides Roose in the first column is dead, and everyone in Ned’s diagonal has died, B1 must contain Ned’s eldest living child. Jon Snow (if he can be considered ‘alive’) was not included in the quiz to avoid confusion; therefore, Sansa is in B1.

4.	Tywin’s clue tells us that there are no characters in the quiz who died before Robert’s Rebellion. Sansa’s says she’s adjacent to two kings and two princes—making up all four unfilled spots adjacent to her. Ned’s clue says Column A is all Northmen, and Roose’s clue says everyone in the column besides him is dead. Taking all four hints into account, the only possible answer for A2 is Robb Stark.

5.	If everyone in Column D has a first or last name beginning with B, and Tywin must be adjacent to his eldest living child, Cersei must be located in E4.

6.	Cersei’s eldest living child is Myrcella, who is adjacent to Tywin. Since Myrcella hasn’t died, she can’t be in D4, therefore, she’s in D5 (which is backed up by Robb’s hint that characters Column D must have a first or last name starting with B—Myrcella Baratheon.)

7.	Myrcella must be adjacent to Renly, who cannot be in Column C as he is not a Targaryen. Therefore, Renly is in D4, making him the death from the second book in Ned’s diagonal.

8.	Every character in Ned’s diagonal died in a different book, and Column C contains only Targaryens. C3, therefore, must contain a Targaryen who died during the series. The only two Targaryens to die during the books thus far are Viserys and Aemon. Since Ned already takes the spot of a character who died in the first book, C3 must be Aemon, who died in the fourth book. (This means that B2 is a character who died in the fifth book, though we can’t say who yet.) NOTE: This clue can be used at any point after Robb’s clue is revealed.

9.	Aemon tells Sam that he believes Daenerys to be the ‘prince that was promised’. Daenerys is a Targaryen, so she must be in Column C. She’s also located between Aemon and her father, Aerys. Cersei’s clue tells us Myrcella is adjacent to Aerys; therefore, Daenerys is in C4 and Aerys is in C5.

10.	Myrcella’s clue says that the only Martell is between the King in the North (Robb) and the Silver Prince (Rhaegar). Rhaegar hasn’t been placed yet, but since C4 is taken by Daenerys, the only other spot available to a Targaryen that would allow someone to be placed directly between him and Robb is C2.

11.	The above places the Martell at B2—meaning he must be a character who died in A Dance with Dragons. The only possible option is Quentyn Martell.

12.	Rhaegar’s clue says that Young Griff is who he says he is—Aegon Targaryen, and Rhaegar’s eldest living child. Aegon must go in C1.

13.	Aegon’s clue tells us that there are Greyjoys in columns D and E, but non adjacent to him. The only remaining spot in Column D not adjacent to Aegon is D3, and the only Greyjoy to have a first name beginning with B (within the time period allotted by this quiz) is Balon. Therefore, Balon is in D3.

14.	Balon is adjacent to five women, so all three of the empty spaces adjacent to him must contain women. Renly’s clue says that Robert Baratheon is in Column D, so he must go in D1. Additionally, he is adjacent to a boy who shares his name. The only open spot near Robert that doesn’t contain a woman (based on Balon’s clue) is E1. Corner spaces contain Wardens during the series, so E1 must contain Robert Arryn.

15.	Robert must be adjacent to his eldest living child. His clue reminds us that his first bastard is ‘alive and well in the Vale’—Mya Stone. Since neither of her names begins with B, she must be located in E2.

16.	Balon’s eldest living child is Asha. Neither her first nor last name begins with B, so she must be in E3.

17.	Mya’s clue suggests that the person in D2 is searching for someone who’s in the Vale. This must be Brienne, a woman whose name starts with B, who’s searching for Sansa.

18.	Back to Quentyn’s clue: a Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch is below Winterfell’s Master-at-Arms. They cannot be in B3 and B4, because Roose must be adjacent to Ramsay (who cannot occupy Column A since he’s still alive) and Dany must be adjacent to Jorah, who must be in Column B as well. Rodrik Cassel and Jeor Mormont fill Quentyn’s criteria, and they are two Northmen, both dead. Therefore, Rodrik is in A3 and Jeor is in A4.

19.	Rodrik’s clue tells us that his daughter, Beth, is to his left. Beth Cassel is in B3.

20.	Beth says her father’s killer is directly below her, so Ramsay must be in B4 (where he is adjacent to his father).

21.	This leaves B5 for Jorah, where he is adjacent to both Dany and Jeor.

Congratulations, you’ve solved the puzzle!