Destroying the white gold as the answer?

[Borillar]

While re-reading Runes, I noticed an interesting quote from right after Linden is translated to the Land:

"Wild magic was the keystone of Time. The pivot, the crux. Bound by Law, and yet illimitable, it both sustained and threatened the process which made existence possible, for without causality and sequence, there could be no life; no creation; no beauty. No evil."

We know that SRD's got an Armageddon-like ending provided for us, and it wouldn't surprise me if the destruction of Covenant's ring (not unlike LOTR in this respect) is central to the final answer to the Despiser...

[Fist and Faith]

I wonder if destroying all white gold would do anything other than prevent anyone from manipulating wild magic.

[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

no white gold, no escape for foul. No escape for foul, no purpose in life... but if the series ends with the destruction of the ring... I mean, people will REALLY start throwing the LOTR comparisons then...

[Borillar]

Actually, upon rethinking, I doubt that simply destroying the ring could be the answer. After all, Covenant *is* the white gold.

[Avatar]

Hmm, But Covenant is (supposedly) dead. And Linden Wields the White Gold. And so does Joan. Who is the White Gold now? Are they all?

--Avatar

[drew]

How could it even be destroyed?
It would take more white gold to do it.

I know, I know, there's another ring in the Land-but only one of them could be destroyed.

[Avatar]

Why do you say that? Oh...you mean that one of the rings could destroy the other, but the remaining one could'nt be?

Still, nothing suggests that the ring itself is in any way immune to physical force. I'd guess that if you chucked it into HotAsh Slay, it'd melt pretty easily.

The point of course, is that it shouldn't matter. If TC was the White Gold, then Linden and Joan should be too, so in theory, the power is theirs to command, with or without the ring.

Of course, there would be psychological barriers to their doing so, but in theory...

(Say, can Wild Magic only be wielded by those from our world? Were there any instances of a Land Dweller using it? Troy managed a flash from the ring, but did anybody else try?)

--A

[I'm Murrin]

Foul did, but that's a 'from outside the Land' and probably counts the same as 'from our world'. Most on Foul's side seem to believe they could use it.
Did Hamako ever say anything on the subject of Waynhim and White Gold?

[Krilly]

Hmm, But Covenant is (supposedly) dead. And Linden Wields the White Gold. And so does Joan. Who is the White Gold now? Are they all?

Both Linden and Joan are key people in Covenant's life. They profoundly effect him. They "wield" Covenant, in a sense... Joan in a self-destructing guilty way and Linden in an unworthy way, knowing she lacks the right and understanding.

[Avatar]

Hmm, an interesting perspective Krilly. You suggesting that they both are the White Gold as well? Or simply that as Covenant's "wielders" he is the "ring" to them?

--A

[Rincewind]

yeah, but foul got to screw around with the law when the staff was destroyed, who says he couldnt do it with the wild magic? - im with fist and faith on this one

[BraulioB]

I think only Thomas Covenant is the white gold. The songs and propheses were about him, pretty nearly describing him. Linden and Joan are most likely only weilders.

B

[drew]

Yeah, they can only use the White Gold Through Him.

But since he's now the Arch of time, it may be more accecable to use (as both Joan and Linden have proved)

[Gadget nee Jemcheeta]

Just as the white gold itself is 'not of the land' or alien to the land, so are the people who can use it? Troy, Joan, Linden, Covenant?
Egads Roger?!
Boy, it'll be downhill when he gets a ring.

[drew]

Yeah, but it'll be gooooooood readin'

[DRL]

if you did destroy the ring wouldnt that destroy the arch of time there by letting foul out of his prison??

[ur-bane]

To answer you, DRL.....no.

The White Gold ring controls wild magic, which is the crux of the Arch of Time.

Destroying the White Gold ring would not destroy the Arch...because the wild magic would still exist.

I think Mhoram's answer to Covenant of "You are the white gold" will be touched upon again.

Alas, I mourn for the Creator.

[wayfriend]

The White Gold ring controls wild magic, which is the crux of the Arch of Time.

Well, actually ... the ring makes it possible for Covenant to control the wild magic, which is the crux of the Arch of Time.

Linden shrugged away his disclaimer. "Then what you're saying," she murmured slowly, "is that the power of wild magic comes from Covenant himself? The ring is just his - his means of articulation?"

He nodded. "I believe that to be sooth."

[ur-bane]

Thank you for that reference, Wayfriend!

So we can go even further:

The ring makes it possible for Covenant to control [or unleash, as it were] himself, who is the crux of the Arch of Time.

[wayfriend]

The ring makes it possible for Covenant to control [or unleash, as it were] himself, who is the crux of the Arch of Time.

Covenant isn't really the Arch of Time.

"But nothing's that simple anymore. The wild magic has been fused into me. I am wild magic. In a sense, I've become the keystone of the Arch. Or I will be—if I let what I am loose. If I ever try to use power."

I've highlighted some important phrases. Covenant doesn't 'be' the Arch of Time in any sense until The Banefire. And even then, it's not so simple.