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{{distinguish|red wanderer}}
[[File:Red comet by dhadkan.jpg|thumb|350px|Red comet as seen over the [[red waste]], the [[north]], and [[Dragonstone]]]]
A '''red comet''' appears in the sky over [[Westeros]] and [[Essos]] in {{Date|299}}. It is believed by various characters and peoples to herald differing events, and thus, different people have given the comet a different name.

==Appearance==
:''See also: [[:Category:Images of the Red Comet|Images of the Red Comet]]''
The comet is red, with a long tail that to some appears to cover half the sky. It is visible by day and outshines the moon at night.{{Ref|aCoK|Prologue}}{{Ref|aCoK|3}} Some refer to its color as blood red.{{Ref|aCoK|7}}

==Recent Events==
===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Franz Miklis dragontail.jpg|thumb|350px|Red Comet, by [http://www.franzmiklis.com/ Franz Miklis]. © [http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ Fantasy Flight Games]©]]
The morning of the day when a [[raven]] brings the news of [[Eddard Stark]]'s death in [[Winterfell]], Maester [[Luwin]] studies the comet through his [[Myr]]ish lens.{{Ref|aGoT|66}}

As [[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s ''[[khalasar]]'' waits for nightfall before [[Khal]] [[Drogo]]'s funeral pyre, [[Jhogo]] notices the red comet, the first star of the evening. It is said that the more fiercely a man burned in life, the brighter his star. Daenerys uses this as a sign to light the pyre, and [[dragon]]s hatch from her three [[dragon egg]]s.{{Ref|aGoT|72}}

===''A Clash of Kings''===
The comet's name in the [[Dothraki language]] is ''shierak qiya'', meaning "Bleeding Star".{{Ref|aCoK|12}} To Daenerys it is a herald of her coming, a sign meant for her to follow, which she does through the [[red waste]].{{ref|ACOK|12}} In one vision within the [[House of the Undying]] at [[Qarth]], the [[Undying Ones]] claim to have sent the comet to guide Daenerys to them.{{Ref|aCoK|48}}

At [[Dragonstone]], the [[red priest]]ess [[Melisandre]] tells [[Selyse Florent]] the comet is [[dragonfire|dragonsbreath]]. Maester [[Cressen]] thinks it an omen of blood and murder.{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}}

In [[King's Landing]] the [[smallfolk]] call it "King Joffrey's Comet" and servants refer to it as the "Dragon's Tail".{{ref|ACOK|2}} Ser [[Arys Oakheart]] thinks it honors the new king, [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey I Baratheon]], and the crimson of [[House Lannister]]. [[Sansa Stark]] is skeptical, thinking it should be a golden comet for [[House Baratheon]].{{ref|ACOK|2}} [[Varys]] tells [[Tyrion Lannister]] that Kingslanders consider the Red Messenger to be a herald warning of war,{{ref|ACOK|3}} and the [[master of whisperers]] explains that priests, preachers, and prophets foretell of doom and destruction.{{ref|ACOK|8}} Referring to the comet as the "[[Father (the Seven)|Father's]] scourge" and the "Harbinger", one of the [[begging brothers]] warns that corruption will soon be purified.{{ref|ACOK|20}}

Men of [[Riverrun]] also call the comet the "Red Messenger". [[Jon Umber|Greatjon Umber]] thinks it represents vengeance for Ned Stark, while [[Edmure Tully]] thinks it represents victory for [[House Tully]]. [[Catelyn Stark]] worries it represents the Lannisters, while [[Brynden Tully]] insists it means blood.{{Ref|aCoK|7}} Lord [[Jason Mallister]] and his son, [[Patrek Mallister|Patrek]], dispute the comet's meaning.{{ref|ACOK|11}}

Traveling with [[Yoren]], [[Arya Stark]] thinks the comet is both splendid and scary. [[Gendry]] names it the "Red Sword", since it looks like a blade still red-hot from the forge. Arya imagines the blood on [[Ice]], [[Eddard Stark]]'s greatsword, after the execution of her father.{{ref|ACOK|1}}

Septon [[Chayle]] of [[Winterfell]] thinks of the comet as the "sword that slays the season", and shortly afterward a [[white raven]] arrives to signal the change of [[Summer (season)|summer]] to [[autumn]].{{ref|ACOK|4}} Luwin thinks the [[direwolves]] [[Shaggydog]] and [[Summer]] howl at the comet because they think it is the [[moon]], while [[Osha]] warns [[Bran Stark]] that it means "blood and fire". Blind [[Old Nan]] says she can smell it, and insists it represents dragons.{{ref|ACOK|4}}

The men of the [[Night's Watch]] call it "Mormont's Torch", referring to their [[Lord Commander of the Night's Watch|Lord Commander]], [[Jeor Mormont]].{{ref|ACOK|6}}{{ref|ACOK|23}}

[[Theon Greyjoy]] thinks of it as his comet while sailing to [[Pyke (island)|Pyke]]. His uncle, [[Aeron Greyjoy|Aeron Damphair]], explains it is a message of war from the [[Drowned God]].{{ref|ACOK|11}}

===''A Storm of Swords''===
Melisandre says "the bleeding star has come and gone", which suggests the comet is no longer visible.{{ref|ASOS|25}} 

Selyse{{ref|ASOS|54}} and Melisandre{{ref|ASOS|78}} state that the red comet is a herald for [[Stannis Baratheon]], who is said to wield [[Lightbringer]] and be [[Azor Ahai]] reborn.

===''A Feast for Crows''===
Maester [[Aemon Targaryen (son of Maekar I)|Aemon]] tells [[Samwell Tarly]] that he dreams of seeing "a red star bleeding in the sky". He speaks to Sam about the prophecy of [[the prince that was promised]], who he once believed to be Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], but now believes to be Daenerys. Aemon tells Sam that Rhaegar believed his son Prince [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|Aegon]] was the promised prince, as a comet was seen above King's Landing on the night he was conceived, and Rhaegar believed the "bleeding star" of the prophecy was a comet.{{ref|AFFC|35}} Later, Archmaester [[Marwyn]] confirms to Sam that the prophecy states the prince is "born [...] beneath a bleeding star".{{ref|AFFC|45}} 

===''A Dance with Dragons''===
[[Salladhor Saan]], when talking to [[Davos Seaworth]] about leaving the cause of [[Stannis Baratheon]] and receiving payment for his damaged ships, asks if this compensation will happen "when the red comet comes again", which seems to indicate that the comet is no longer visible in the Westerosi sky.{{ref|ADWD|9}}

==Quotes==
{{Quote|The first star was a comet, burning red. Bloodred; fire red; the dragon's tail.{{ref|AGOT|72}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|The [[maester]] did not believe in omens. And yet ... old as he was, Cressen had never seen a comet half so bright, nor yet that color, that terrible color, the color of blood and flame and sunsets.{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}}|[[Cressen]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|The thing in the sky is a comet, sweet child. A star with a tail, lost in the heavens. It will be gone soon enough, never to be seen again in our lifetimes. Watch and see.{{ref|ACOK|Prologue}}|[[Cressen]], to [[Shireen Baratheon]]}}

{{Quote|This comet is sent to herald [[Joffrey Baratheon|Joffrey's]] ascent to the throne, I have no doubt. It means that he will triumph over his enemies.{{Ref|aCoK|2}}|[[Arys Oakheart]], to [[Sansa Stark]]}}

{{Quote|In the streets, they call it the Red Messenger. They say it comes as a herald before a king, to warn of fire and blood to follow.{{ref|ACOK|3}}|[[Varys]], to [[Tyrion Lannister]]}}

{{quote|'''Catelyn''': The [[Jon Umber|Greatjon]] told [[Robb Stark|Robb]] that the [[old gods]] have unfurled a red flag of vengeance for [[Eddard Stark|Ned]]. [[Edmure Tully|Edmure]] thinks it's an omen of victory for [[Riverrun]]—he sees a fish with a long tail, in the [[House Tully|Tully]] colors, red against blue. I wish I had their faith. Crimson is a [[House Lannister|Lannister]] color.<br>
'''Brynden''': That thing's not crimson. Nor Tully red, the mud red of [[Red Fork|the river]]. That's blood up there, child, smeared across the sky.{{ref|ACOK|7}}|[[Catelyn Stark]] and [[Brynden Tully]]}}

{{Quote|'''Aeron''': Every morning brings a new day, much like the old.<br>
'''Theon''': In [[Riverrun]], they would tell you different. They say the red comet is a herald of a new age. A messenger from [[Faith of the Seven|the gods]].<br>
'''Aeron''': A sign it is, but from our god, not theirs. A burning brand it is, such as [[ironborn|our people]] carried of old. It is the flame the [[Drowned God]] brought from the sea, and it proclaims a rising tide. It is time to hoist our sails and go forth into the world with [[Old Way|fire and sword]], as he did.{{Ref|aCoK|11}}|[[Aeron Greyjoy]] and [[Theon Greyjoy]]}}

{{Quote|It is the herald of my coming. The gods have sent it to show me the way.{{Ref|aCoK|12}}|[[Daenerys Targaryen]]'s thoughts}}

{{Quote|Corruption! There is the warning! Behold the [[Father (the Seven)|Father's]] scourge! We have become swollen, bloated, foul. [[Jaime Lannister|Brother]] couples with [[Cersei Lannister|sister]] in the bed of kings, and the [[Joffrey Baratheon|fruit]] of their incest capers in his palace to the piping of a [[Tyrion Lannister|twisted little monkey demon]]. [[Selyse Florent|Highborn ladies]] [[A Clash of Kings-Chapter 15|fornicate]] with [[Patchface|fools]] and give [[Shireen Baratheon|birth]] to [[Greyscale|monsters]]! Even the [[High Septon (fat one)|High Septon]] has forgotten [[Faith of the Seven|the gods]]! He bathes in scented waters and grows fat on lark and lamprey while his people starve! Pride comes before prayer, maggots rule our castles, and gold is all ... but no more! The Rotten Summer is at an end, and the [[Robert I Baratheon|Whoremonger King]] is brought low! When the [[boar]] did open him, a great stench rose to heaven and a thousand snakes slid forth from his belly, hissing and biting! There comes the Harbinger! Cleanse yourselves, the gods cry out, lest ye be cleansed! Bathe in the wine of righteousness, or you shall be bathed in fire! Fire!{{Ref|aCoK|20}}|a [[begging brother]] in [[King's Landing]]}}

{{Quote|You are he who must stand against [[Great Other|the Other]]. The one whose coming was prophesied five thousand years ago. The red comet was your herald. You are [[the prince that was promised]], and if you fail [[known World|the world]] fails with you.{{ref|ASOS|63}}|[[Melisandre]], to [[Stannis Baratheon]]}}

==Behind the Scenes==
The red comet is partially inspired by [[w:Caesar's Comet|Caesar's Comet]] from [[w:William Shakespeare|William Shakespeare's]] ''[[w:Julius Caesar (play)|Julius Caesar]]''.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1214 Eastern Cities and Peoples], June 12, 2002</ref>

==References==
{{references}}

[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Events]]

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