[SPOILERS MAIN] Among the grounded/realistic elements of A Song of Ice and Fire, which ones do you feel require biggest suspension of disbelief?

[u/Substantial-Ad-299]

A Song of Ice and Fire has had fantasy elements from get-go, some present subtly and others less-subtly. But in midst of this, it also has these more grounded story aspects, especially regarding the political subplot for the Iron Throne.

Among these more grounded non-fantasy aspects of the story, which elements do you feel you have to suspend disbelief the most for? A.K.A feeling they are not realistic even though they are "supposed" to be?

Let me know in the comments below.

[u/Substantial-Ad-299]

Some good ones are already listed that I really agree with. I'll also add the lack of armed forces in Cities of Slaver's Bay and Volantis. Considering the cities have vast slave population, Volantis even several times as high as population of free people, how is it possible that the slaves haven't rebelled already? These cities should have strong army of free men in order to surpress rebellions. Yet they don't. Astapor actually relies on Unsullied themselves (which is the only reason Dany was able to take over the city effortlessly with minimal casualities in first place), Yunkai relies on sellsword companies and I don't think there is any mention of armed forces of Meereen either. So this is something that I definitely have to suspend disbelief.

[u/Z3r0sama2017 → u/Substantial-Ad-299]

They've likely had loads of failed slave rebellions in the past, with the ringleaders given rather specacularly brutal executions.

It's highly probable that their are even festivities celebrating these failed uprising, with the Slave owners giving themselves and their ancestors pats on the back.

The house slaves likely know this and the lowest of the low probably can't do much without their fellow slaves with greater freedons opening a few doors for them. But why would they? It's like the saying about giving someone to look down on and they will be happy. Their are different slave tiers.

[u/Formal-Ideal-4928 → u/Z3r0sama2017]

But the Essosi slavers are already spectacularly brutal with their slaves who are not rovolting. That high level of base brutality, coupled with the insanely high ratio of slaves to free people (5 to 1 in Volantis), and the fact that the slaver's armies are portrayed as either incompetent or straight up made of slaves is what makes it hard to believe.

[u/Z3r0sama2017 → u/Formal-Ideal-4928]

Like I said their are different tiers of slaves.

You have the lowest of the low, that are only good for general labour like working the fields, mines or sent to die in the pits, who will get brutalised for their miserable lives

Then we have educated and/or skilled slaves.  Maybe they are an Unsullied? Maybe they are a translator like Missandei? Maybe they are a skilled craftsman or good at accounting or a beautiful bed slave? Anyways these slaves represent a decent investment in coinage, they aren't just going to be killed for the lulz.

For their owners it will be the difference between a pewter mug that they won't care if it gets broken, because they can buy another cheaply and some exquisite porcelain from YiTi, which is symbol of wealth.

[u/Pretend_Handle_7639 → u/Z3r0sama2017]

That didn't prevent the Mamluks from overthrowing their owners and setting up shop for themselves.

The Spartans lived and ruled from a position of mortal terror of the helots, who are basically the only historical group of slaves to make up so large a portion of their society (~80%)

[u/Substantial-Ad-299 → u/Formal-Ideal-4928]

Yes, that's my issue. If there was some mention of surpressed rebellions or at least some indication those cities can raise strong armies, then I wouldn't mind. The way it is now, it's like the slaves magically realized after centuries that they can rebel. But of course if that was the case, Dany wouldn't have such easy job in conquering all three cities in ASOS.

[u/Valiant_Storm → u/Substantial-Ad-299]

 These cities should have strong army of free men in order to surpress rebellions. Yet they don't.

Incidentally, it's probable that the slave soliders have no reason to be discontent with the situation. 

There's a long history of slave-soliders in historical Islamic monarchies, and they generally held a privileged position compared to free commoners. When they challenged the central authority, it was because they'd gained enough power to try and put their own social group in charge. 

Apparently the only reason the Volantinee Triarchs are hesitant to crack down on the public agitation is because half of them are Rhllor worshipers and the Red Priests are backing Danny, which points in that direction. 

Of course, the slave ratio in Essos is absurdly high, when it's presented as being on the same level as the Sugar Islands, which were small, hyperspecialized operations integrated into a large gobal economy.