The Bloodguard Vow

[Sergio]

Ok, am re-reading the books again for the first time in years, I want it all to be fresh before I start "Runes."

But I have a question that I am pretty sure I never found the answer to in the 2nd trilogy.

In the Wounded Land, after freeing them, they make their vow to Covenant. But I am not sure it was ever clear if that re-ignited their blood vow.

Did they sleep after that? Am pretty sure that wasn't clear, but it has been awhile. Would appreciate any insight.

Thanks,

Sergio

[dlbpharmd]

Welcome to KevinsWatch!

IMO, the service that the Haruchai gave to Covenant in 2nd Chronicles did not include any life-altering Vow. It was more a pact or a promise than anything else.

The only time that I'm aware of that the Haruchai slept was when the Lady Alif drugged them in TOT.

[Believer]

I've always been of the opinion that they slept during the 2nd chrons, but only a little. Maybe a couple hours a night.

The Haruchai are cool and all, but I never liked the idea that they could just go without sleep without something like the Vow. And I don't think they renewed the Vow after the 1st Chrons

Still, it's one of those questions I've thought about asking SRD about, since to my mind he never answered the question of whether they sleep or not definitively in the 2nd Chrons.

[Man Of Westernesse]

I would have to agree that the service they give TC in 2nd Chronicles is definately not a renewal of the Bloodguard Vow. They are fulfilling Bannor's plea/pledge in Andelain (sic. '.. redeem my people and they will serve you well....')

On the sleep question, I always took it that they (Haruchai, not Bloodguard) do need sleep - but they can get by on very little compared to the rest of us.

[kevinswatch]

Yeah, I think in the 2nd Chronicles they join Covenant just because they're bored. No vow or anything.

Sometimes it'd be nice to never sleep...think of all the stuff you could do with that time.

Of course, the Bloorguard don't really make the most of it... They spend most of their time standing around and looking uninterested in things.-jay

[wayfriend]

On the sleep question, I always took it that they (Haruchai, not Bloodguard) do need sleep - but they can get by on very little compared to the rest of us.

My take is that they need sleep, but they are somewhat able to do without it for extended periods due to their native heartiness, and they are stubborn enough to do without it for longer than they should.

At one point Covenant remarks to Foamfollower that he has gone without sleep for three days and nights. Foamfollower is a Giant; no Vow is needed to explain his fortitude.

[dlbpharmd]

Mistweave berates himself in WGW for not being as hardy as Cail - in other words, Cail could go without sleep, while Mistweave could not.

[MrKABC]

In the Power that Preserves, Bannor tells Covenant in the Plains of Ra that without his Vow his mortality is accelerating and he requires "sleep and hot food."

I would assume that held true for Haruchai since the end of the Vow.

No Vow (using Earthpower) was sworn to Covenant - Brinn remarks that to Covenant as they are entering the Sarangrave Flat, and Durris asks Covenant that question again in Revelstone after the defeat of the Clave ..."do you wish such a Vow from us again, so that we may recover the meaning of our lives?" (Paraphrasing here) Covenant then declines to reinvoke a Vow.

I believe that SRD has been consistent in indicating that the Haruchai were a hardy breed of people that didn't require much sleep.