[Stannis Baratheon — Characters]
Despite gathering a number of allies, the coalition force is still heavily outnumbered by the Boltons. Jon is adamant that they attack Winterfell as soon as possible to prevent Ramsay from gathering more men or to avoid the weather turning against them, like it did for Stannis Baratheon. Sansa argues they still need more men and wants to try to recruit more houses. When Jon argues that they are out of time and must strike now, Sansa secretly writes a letter to Littlefinger calling for help.
In the novels, the Stark banner is a whole direwolf . In the TV series, the Stark banner most often used is just a direwolf's head, though the alternate version showing the whole direwolf is also seen (i.e. on banners during the Tourney of the Hand , tapestries at Winterfell, and Ned Stark's wax seal on the letter he sends to Stannis Baratheon). Further, the sigil in the books is just a grey direwolf on a white field. This is used in the TV series, but it also frequently uses a subtle variant which has the grey direwolf on a white field, surmounting a small green escutcheon at the bottom.
It is relatively quite unknown how the Tyrell army is experienced in terms of warfare since most of their army didn't partake in pitch battles during the War of the Five Kings. Numerous battles such as the Battle of the Blackwater showed it’s capability in combat, wherein the combined cavalry of both House Lannister and Tyrell easily managed to crush Stannis Baratheon 's army with ease. Although it can be considered that they fought using mounted soldiers which gives an advantage compared to the foot soldiers used during the battle. Later in Season 7 , it is revealed that the Tyrell army is incapable of fighting as stated by Olenna Tyrell by grimly stating "It was never our forte". This can be an assumption that House Tyrell is more reliant and dependent on their more martial vassals like the Tarlys and other houses to fight their battles.
Tywin, too, understands it is necessary to appease the Martells, lest they form an alliance with Stannis Baratheon . He is partly correct: as revealed in the fourth and fifth novels, Doran Martell intends to support enemies of House Lannister; the enemies in question, however, are the Targaryens, not the Baratheons.
George R.R. Martin has said that the production team was not certain how many members of House Martell they could fit into the TV series. Doran has three children, while Oberyn and Ellaria have eight daughters. Even for House Tyrell, which has four children in the current generation, two have apparently been cut from the TV series (Loras and Margaery's older brothers from the books). Conversely, in Season 2 the production team thought they might have to cut Stannis Baratheon 's only child, Shireen , but subsequently were able to introduce her in Season 3. While Oberyn and Ellaria did appear in Season 4, only Trystane Martell and three of the Sand Snakes ( Obara , Nymeria , and Tyene Sand ) have appeared in the TV series.
Lord Balon Greyjoy led a rebellion against King Robert Baratheon years after the downfall of the Targaryens in Robert's Rebellion. The Iron Fleet , under Euron Greyjoy, sailed for Lannisport and burned the Lannister fleet, which made them unopposed in the Sunset Sea. Balon's sons Rodrik and Maron were killed in the unsuccessful rebellion, the former at Lord Jason Mallister's hand at Seagard and the latter during the Baratheon siege of Pyke. The Iron Fleet would later be defeated by the royal fleet under Stannis Baratheon at Fair Isle. Balon's only surviving son Theon was made a ward of Lord Eddard Stark to ensure Balon's submission to King Robert. Only his daughter, Yara Greyjoy , and two of his brothers remained on the Iron Islands after his defeat.
Though the Boltons, in Roose's words, have become a Great House and are now situated at Winterfell, the death of Tywin has left House Bolton's protection in a dire situation, since they no longer have enough men to hold the North should the bannermen of House Stark rise up against them, especially in response to Ramsay's atrocities. The Boltons also face a new threat in the form of Stannis Baratheon , who is garrisoned at the Wall and is planning to retake the North from the Boltons and rally the North to his army for another chance to take the Iron Throne . In order to strengthen their position, Roose conspires with Petyr Baelish to have Ramsay marry Sansa, unaware that Baelish is apparently plotting the Boltons' downfall in revenge for the part they played in Catelyn's death.