"He and Lord Foul spoke the Ritual"

[Nathan Brazil]

I am haunted by this line in the Illearth War. Kevin and Lord Foul spoke the Ritual together at Kiril Threndor.

Does that surprise anyone? Seems consensual. Are we talking duel here? Was Foul NEEDED for the large ritual?

[dlbpharmd]

The way that I understand it, Kevin challenged Foul to meet him to enact the RoD. Kevin knew his life would end, and he thought that Foul would be destroyed also.

[Nathan Brazil]

But there is something to this. The sheer irony of the quote. Perhaps a metaphor for Kevin giving it to despite.

[Krilly]

It's like calling a bluff. Kevin thought he'd destroy Despite through desecration, Foul believed he would survive.

[CovenantJr]

They both believed they had something to gain by it. Kevin knew the Land would be ravaged, as Foul desired, but believed it would heal, and Foul would die. Foul knew he would be badly harmed, but also knew he would survive. They both believed it would be costly, but a victory. Of course, as usual, it was Foul who was correct.

[Revan]

Maybe Foul believed that he wouldn't be able to kill Kevin any other way...

[I'm Murrin]

Maybe Foul believed that he wouldn't be able to kill Kevin any other way...

Foul knew Kevin had given in to despair, and knew that he could defeat him now if he tried, but I think it amused him more to watch Kevin destroy the Land which he loved for a reason which was ultimately false (since Foul, coming from outside that world, could never be destroyed by a power from within the AoT). Remember that in LFB he talks of how much he laughed while performing the Ritual, "laughed until Kevin's face showed doubt before the end" (paraphrasing).

[hamako]

I'm just re reading LFB , not read it for a while, and there's some good stuff in it that I've only really appreciated/absorbed this time (which must be at least the 5th read).

Foul's immortal, that much is clear if Tamarantha's account of it all is to be believed. He can't die whatever happens, unless of course the AoT and everything else comes down with him. A point not lost on Covenant, hence the inevitable self sacrifice at the end of the 2nd Chrons. So of course LF knew he'd survive the RoD, he just got his kicks by crushing the epitome of all the good in the Land, Kevin. Probably did it just because he could. "i'm such a badass, I can even make the Land's champion despair so much he'll destroy the very thing he loves".

LF is such a great villain isn't he? I think he's one of the great literary bad guys. Love him.

It's going to be interesting to see how he is portrayed in the Last Chrons. I read somewhere that they end with the end of the world. Even then I bet LF would survive. Top lad.

It'd be no wonder that LF uttered the RoD alongside Kevin, imagine the kicks he'd get looking into Kevin's eyes just as the sh*t came down saying "Told you so, I'll be back in a while...and you won't be there to stop me, cheerio boyo...."

Great stuff, that would really make you despair......