Let’s dreamcast “10,000 Ships,” HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel series

Manu Bennett as Garin of Chroyane

If HBO is going to adapt the story of Nymeria’s voyage, it would make sense for them to use at least an episode or two to show how she ended up adrift at sea in the first place, because it’s a fascinating story.

In ancient times, the Rhoyne had many Princes and Princesses who ruled their own strongholds along the river. This lasted right up until Valyria, the ancient empire of dragonriders from which the Targaryens are descended, started conquering some of the Rhoynar’s farthest flung outposts and converting them into Valyrian colonies. It led to a series of small wars that culminated with the Valyrians sacking the large Rhoynish city of Sarhoy and enslaving its people.

The Rhoynar were proud and could not let this stand. At least, that’s how Garin of Chroyane spun things. Garin was the prince of the festival city Chroyane, one of the most powerful lords of the Rhoyne. Harnessing the outrage of the Rhoynish people, Garin convinced them to band together and fight the freehold. The only leader who dissented was Nymeria, who argued that they simply could not win against the Valyrian dragons.

The Rhoynish backed Garin, and he led an army that was supposedly a quarter-million strong out to face the Valyrians while Nymeria remained behind to safeguard the rear with the women, children, and elderly.

At first, Garin’s forces won many victories. They even managed to kill a few dragons, and Garin of Chroyane soon became known instead as Garin the Great. But eventually, the Valyrians brought their entire might to bear against his army. Hundreds of dragons filled the sky and Garin’s forces burned. It was said the dragon fire was so hot that the river Rhoyne itself boiled and steamed. The Valyrians carried Garin back to Chroyane in a golden cage so that he could watch the destruction of his home and enslavement of his people. Meanwhile Nymeria, upon hearing word of Garin’s loss, gathered the remaining Rhoynar onto a rag-tag assortment of watercraft and set sail in hopes of evading the Valyrians.

This is more or less all we know about Garin the Great, but it paints a pretty interesting picture of a misguided warrior-ruler who was able to embolden the hearts of his people…even if his mission was so misguided that it ultimately led to their demise. Manu Bennett, best known for his role as the gladiator Crixus in Spartacus and Allanon in The Shannara Chronicles, is an expert at playing inspiring-yet-tortured heroes. We’ve already seen him lead armies on screen and fight in battles, so it’s very easy to imagine him pulling off a role like Garin.

Garin the Great’s story is a tragedy, and Bennett would have a field day with that kind of material. Moreover, because his story wraps up so quickly and brutally, basically beginning Nymeria’s own tale, it would be a great opportunity to bring in an actor with a large presence like Bennett…only to have him be the show’s first shock casualty.