There have been many crazy theories surrounding House of the Dragon. This includes the fan theory that certain characters of the show are actually dragons. However, there is one theory that may just be crazy enough to be true. Fans have claimed that Lord Larys Strong has somehow been controlling the rats around the Red Keep. House of the Dragon keeps showing cryptic scenes of rats crawling around the halls and walls of the Red Keep. We even saw a rat during the marriage of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon which took place after Ser Criston Cole killed Joffrey Lonmouth. So now we will explore this theory of Larys Strong being a skinchanger and what it could possibly mean.
Who is a skinchanger?
A skinchanger is essentially someone who can enter the mind of an animal and control their actions. The animal in such cases is usually a wolf or dog. Then the person is known as a warg. Such skinchangers can often even see through the eyes of the animals that they inhabit. They can transfer their consciousness into the animal’s mind. Moreover, they can ever unintentionally inhabit their minds and thus have dreams or visions. Another very interesting fact about skinchangers is that the personality of the person and the animal influence and mimic one another.
These skinchangers are usually all greenseers as well. Both abilities are naturally connected to each other. However, usually the animal is a dog, wolf, deer or maybe even a bird. Nonetheless, a rat would not be implausible. In Game of Thrones, almost all Stark children were skinchangers. Especially Bran Stark who was both a greenseer and a warg. Now that we know who a skinchanger is, let us explore the theory that Larys Strong may be one.
What is the rat theory in House of the Dragon?
As we mentioned before, the rat theory that House of the Dragon fans have conjured claims that Larys Strong either controls the rats or can become one. In this way he spies on the rest of the people in the Red Keep. Rats have often been shown in several scenes. Consequently, this has led fans to believe that the rats are significant to the storyline is some way. The theory explains how Lord Larys Strong is aware of even the most secret happenings in the Red Keep. Now, unlike Mysaria who has a network of spies, Lord Larys Strong is left to his own devices. He is not a man with many friends. In fact, he mostly keeps to himself.
Is Lord Larys Strong a skinchanger?
Despite the theory being a wild one, Larys Strong being a skinchanger is definitely a possible explanation for his actions. While Larys Strong himself cannot change into rats, he would be able to control them if he was a skinchanger. In this way he could keep tabs on all the happenings in the Red Keep. Lord Larys Strong knew that grand maester Mellos had served moontea to Princess Rhaenyra after her night out with Daemon Targaryen. He also knew that the King had himself ordered it. This was done in extreme secrecy and was kept from even Queen Alicent. So it is quite a mystery how he found out in the first place.
Larys Strong also managed to find out about Mysaria’s network of spies. This included knowing the fact that Queen Alicent’s handmaid Talya herself was a spy working for Mysaria, the White Worm. Considering how isolated and lonely Larys Strong is, there aren’t many ways he could have stumbled upon such kinds of information. Moreover, we have already covered the evidence that supports the fact that Lord Larys Strong is a greenseer. And as we mentioned before, greenseers often have extra abilities such as being a skinchanger or a warg. This was true in the case of Bran Stark and could be true for Lord Larys Strong as well.
