Forestaal

[Ageless Stranger]

Does anyone have any clue as to what the origins of the Forestaal(or is the plural Forestals) are? are they human? Maybe Unfettered? It may have said this in the books, but i dont have them with me, so forgive my ignorance. Also, do we know of any other Forestaal than Wildwood and Caveral and what their powers were?

[Taiga Tzu]

As one of the Forestaal (Forestals is the way the humans pluralized it), I, naturally, know quite a bit about these things. But as your author did not include such information, I fear few wood believe me. For example, no, we were not all originally human.

As for our powers... As with the EarthBlood, I'm afraid there aren't enough days in your brief lives to go into all possible detail. But I will say this: You perceive the greater, self-aware powers as music. The Forestaal and Elohim are examples. I do not perceive myself as music, but your minds translate as best they can. And it is a beautiful translation!!

[Earthfriend]

Ah Forestal, your answer gives rise to a dozen more questions...

[Ageless Stranger]

lol thankyou for your poetic words, Taiga Tzu. i would love to hear what you do deem us humans worthy of hearing about your origins and lore.

[Fist and Faith]

I really need to see Tombstone again. But in the meantime, here's Doc H from Wyatt Earp:

"I wake up every morning looking in the face of death, and you know what? He ain’t half bad. I think the secret old Mister Death is holding is that it’s better for some of us over on the other side. I know it can’t be any worse for me."

[variol son]

findail tells us in TOT that one of the appointed of the elohim went & gave herself to the one forest when it was in danger from the ravers i think. the trees used the knowledge that they gained from her 2 bind her in stone, thus creating the collossus of the fall which denied the ravers access to the upper land until people from the north and south began to destroy the one forest. when this started to happen, the collussus relaxed its interdiction, either bcoz its power was weakened, or to punish the men destroying the trees.

the forestals (sorry taiga tzu, but i am human) were also created or given birth be the trees using the knowledge gained from the appointed elohim. im not sure if this was done when she first arrived, or not until later when the collossus released the ravers on to th upper land.

[Taiga Tzu]

the forestals (sorry taiga tzu, but i am human)

That's quite all right, dear. We are all what we are, and must be what we must be.

And your summation was accurate. But just to clarify, the Colossus, poor thing, "relaxed its interdiction" for both reasons that you suggest. And we Forestaal came after that point, when the Forests realized that they needed help against not just the Ravers, but also against the humans who had destroyed enough trees that the Colossus could no longer function as effectively against the Ravers. The Colossus had no power over the humans. Although the Colossus had only one real power, keeping out the Ravers, it originally did so in an absolute way - setting up an invisible (invisible to humans, that is) wall that they could not breach. We, on the other hand, acted far more specifically in a variety of way, doing whatever needed to be done in each particular instance.

[Ageless Stranger]

thats great..thanks you guys, my wondering is put at ease. and Fist and Faith, i love that quote...Doc is the man...and i highly suggest becoming reacquainted with Tombstone again; its one of the greatest films ever(IMO). next year at college im an advisor for freshmen and our hall theme is going to be tombstone...its gonna be great! i really appreciate you all helping me to understand the Forestaal better. thanks!

[Ryzel]

Of all the servants of earthpower in the Land there is probably nothing that can or could match a forestal in his forest. And there is nothing to suggest that they ever left the forests except maybe to go to another forest. The only forestal we know of that changed forests were Caer-Caveral, who became the forestal of Andelain.

[Taiga Tzu]

Of all the servants of earthpower in the Land there is probably nothing that can or could match a forestal in his

, or her,

forest.

True enough. At least in any sort of one-to-one contest. And thank you for saying so.

And there is nothing to suggest that they ever left the forests except maybe to go to another forest. The only forestal we know of that changed forests were Caer-Caveral, who became the forestal of Andelain.

Also true. Caer-Caveral was the only one of us to leave the Forest that he was born in. But then, he was also the only Forestal birthed by another Forestal. The rest of us were birthed by the Elohim-wizened soul of the One Forest itself.

[variol son]

i agree that the forestals r amazingly powerful, but y could caer caveral not protect TC in morinmoss after the death of the unfettered one in TPTP? even though triok was possessed by Herem turiya, surely the raver was limited in some way by trioks mortal flesh. i cant imagine caerroil wildwood, or caer caveral in andelain in the 2nd chrons, having much of a problem with him.

[I'm Murrin]

I don't understand what you mean about Triock - He met Covenant on the bank of the river, outside of Morinmoss, if that's what you mean - he didn't go any closer to the forest than that.

[variol son]

but the forestals music could reach that far, so y was it so...useless. triok basically blows it away as if it were only dust on the breeze or something. i no they werent technically in the forest anymore, but still. if caer caveral could here TC from the collosus, surely he could've done something more.

[Taiga Tzu]

Consider:
-The Colossus of the Fall was created by the One Forest with the knowledge it gained from the Elohim Appointed.
-The Forestaal were created by the One Forest with the knowledge it gained from the Elohim Appointed.

Although Caer-Caveral was not able to "reach far from Morinmoss" into other terrains, it is understandable that he could aid Thomas Covenant through the Colossus. The Colossus and the Forestaal are brethren.

[Lady Thea]

Hmm, you'd know, wouldn't you?

[Taiga Tzu]