The Karstark Ravens in TWoW (Spoilers Extended)

Background

In this post I thought it would be interesting to discuss the Karstark ravens that Stannis now possesses in The Winds of Winter. He acquires these ravens from the Karstark maester (Tybald) who had sent messages to Winterfell. Ever the tactful commander in addition to using the terrain, I would also expect him to use these ravens as well.

If interested: Stannis/Theon & The Weirwood Tree in the Crofters' Village & The Showdown at the Tree: The Karstark Replacement Theory

Note: If you have a good understanding of Stannis' position in the crofter's village and the Karstark betrayal, just skip to the section "Stannis Using the Ravens"

The Ravens

Stannis catches Tybald in a lie, in which a map of Stannis' location/forces was sent to Roose at Winterfell:

“Answer me. If we were to loose these birds, would they return to the Dreadfort?” The king leaned forward. “Or might they fly for Winterfell instead?”

Maester Tybald pissed his robes. Theon could not see the dark stain spreading from where he hung, but the smell of piss was sharp and strong.

“Maester Tybald has lost his tongue,” Stannis observed to his knights. “Godry, how many cages did you find?”

“Three, Your Grace,” said the big knight in the silvered breastplate. “One was empty.”-TWOW, Theon I

but in addition to the terrain (Nightlamp Theory), Stannis can now send false information ahead to Winterfell if he chooses:

Roose Bolton’s men may well be on their way to attack us even now, however, so you must understand if I skimp on certain courtesies. I will ask you once again. What was in the message you sent to Winterfell?”

The maester quivered. “A m-map, Your Grace.”

The king leaned back in his chair. “Get him out of here,” he commanded. “Leave the ravens.” A vein was throbbing in his neck. “Confine this grey wretch to one of the huts until I decide what is to be done with him.”

If interested: Names Said by Ravens in the Series & Animals Screaming During "Magical" Events &

Ravens and the Word "Die"

The Ravens' True Purpose (Bran)

By now, I think most everyone is aware that Bran/Bloodraven have been using the ravens/weirwoods to speak not only to Theon throughout the series but they are heavily involved in this scene, basically telling Stannis to take Theon to the weirwood/heart tree in the Crofter's Village.

If interested: Accessible Weirwood/Heart Trees & Bran/Bloodraven Interfering in Different Plotlines

that said, it should be noted that the reader is reminded that these ravens belonged to the Dreadfort maester and with all of the subterfuge that Stannis will likely use, I think that these ravens could come heavily into play in a non magical manner.

If interested: The Upcoming Meeting Between Flint/Wull and the King in the Crofter's Village

Stannis Using the Ravens

As I mentioned, Stannis has ravens that we are reminded belonged to the Dreadfort and can use them to fly wrong information to Winterfell.

“Knows me,” cried one of the ravens the maester had left behind. It flapped its big black wings against the bars of its cage.

“Knows,” it cried again.

Stannis turned. “Stop that noise.”

and:

And suddenly there came a wild thumping, as the maester’s ravens hopped and flapped inside their cages, their black feathers flying as they beat against the bars with loud and raucous caws. “The tree,” one squawked, “the tree, the tree,” whilst the second screamed only, “Theon, Theon, Theon.”

The Nightlamp by u/cantuse is one of my favorite theories ever and the first half regarding Stannis using the terrain/beacon to his advantage to wreck the Freys is basically canon to me. The big question to me is how does Stannis take Winterfell? While the terrain is much easier goings from the village to Winterfell than his previous march, the castle is extremely strong (If interested: By Siege or Storm, A Look at Attacks on the Great Castles of Westeros) and Stannis likely would be unable to take it by storm.

Thoughts

• Its heavily theorized that Stannis fakes his death (it may even be true) to take Winterfell, the ravens/Lightbringer could aid in that in some way
• The contents of the Pink Letter could be based on the false information received by the ravens
• As we see in other locations, characters are blind without information and the information received by raven can lead to very important decisions: The Princess' Ravens to Doran Martell

If interested: The Isle of Ravens in TWOW & White Wings, Dark Words

TLDR: In TWoW, Theon I, the reader finds out that the Dreadfort Maester (Tybald) has sent information to Winterfell (a map). There are leftover ravens that have been trained to fly to Winterfell and while their true purpose for the chapter is likely to convey Bran/Bloodraven's wishes to Stannis, it should be noted that these ravens can still be used by Stannis to send information to Winterfell. I expect Stannis to use the terrain to his advantage (Nightlamp Theory) to defeat the Freys and then use the ravens to his advantage in his next move.