Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers starts off in the aftermath of several big events. Mira has learned of a plot against her family in King's Landing, but doesn't quite know how to stop it. Asher has helped Daenerys take Meereen and wants his reward, while Gared, Cotter and Finn (if you convinced him to come along) are north of the Wall looking for the North Grove. Meanwhile, the rest of the Forresters at Ironrath are having to deal with the consequences of how they handled standing up to (or bowing down to) the Whitehills. Where some of the main character's perils are the physical kind, others are in a more political trap, and all need careful guidance in order to get through the next set of consequences and choices.

Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers's Ironrath story starts with Rodrick returning from the Whitehill stronghold to find Ramsay Snow in the dining hall with Rodrick's sister, Talia. It seems Bolton's bastard son has learned that the Glenmores have been brought into the feud between the Forresters and the Whitehills. After making a pronouncement that could be either good or bad for the Forresters, Ramsay demonstrates just why he is one of the darkest characters in the series and provides the episode it's first (but not last) death.

Before this episode is complete, Rodrick will learn just who is the traitor in the Forrester family and exactly what choices you have made that lead to their treasonous decision. Not only does the reveal itself lead to a crucial decision, but the confession tells you exactly which choices you made led to the character becoming a turncoat. Of course, the question is, when they get the chance to speak their side, are you going to have mercy on them, or are you going to make sure they can't turn against you again?

Gared's Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers story starts off with his small party taking a bit of a breather. Cotter and Finn (again, if he is with you) have come across Cotter's sister, Sylvi. With Cotter injured, you will have to work extra hard to not only convince her that you mean her no harm, but that she needs to help guide you to the North Grove. Given the wave of White Walkers that she and all of the Freefolk are running from, good luck with that particular task.

Of course, an episode of Game of Thrones wouldn't be complete without some combat, and as you might guess, it isn't long before the camp is besieged by Walkers. Expect to do some quick key pressing in order to survive the fights that follow - those frozen zombies are hard to put down.

Asher's part of Game of Thrones: Episode 5- A Nest of Vipers actually wraps up his story in Essos. Before the end of this episode, he will have his fighters and he will make his way back to Westeros. Unfortunately, it won't exactly be the Second Sons like he was hoping. Then again, that was kind of expected since Daenerys still has them on hand far into her reign on Meereen. Why does she deny you? What has caused this change in behavior? Well, that depends on some choices you made in the last episode and how you answer her questions about the events that just transpired.

Regardless, Asher must find a new group of people willing to fight for the Forresters, and Beskha has an idea of where to go. Unfortunately, the band of fighters she has in mind aren't likely to follow a new master, and Asher will have to earn their trust, not only in combat, but with a rousing speech that will hopefully play on this particular group's fancies.

Mira's Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers story doesn't really advance enough, and given the events of the other parts of the episode, the result is that her section feels like the weakest by far. After the events of King Tommen's coronation feast, Cersei summons Mira to talk about the commotion that the young Forrester caused. Of course, the discussion is a political minefield as you have to maneuver through several conversation points trying to balance your loyalty to your family, to Margaery, and to the crown. Regardless of how you fare, you will be sent on a task to test the validity of what you told the Queen Mother. While it is obvious that this discussion and exactly how you handle your task will have effects in the season's final episode, by the time you finish up A Nest of Vipers, you will find that you really haven't done a whole lot to advance Mira's plot.

Game of Thrones: Episode 5 - A Nest of Vipers feels a lot like the second to last episode in most seasons of the TV series. There are several major events that come to a head in this episode, and while the final episode promises to wrap everything up (well, hopefully), most of Episode 6 feels like it will be the conclusions to all of your plotting, scheming and choices crashing to what feels like an inevitable end. Will the Forresters come out above the Whitehills? Can Mira get the money to help back her family? Do Gared and his companions get to the North Grove? What exactly is the legendary place and can it help the Forresters? At least with Asher's return to Westeros, one of the plot threads has woven itself back to Ironrath.