It is said that the eyes are the gateway to the soul, and SRD must believe this in some way, for eyes play a large part in many of his character descriptions.
From High Lord Mhoram, with his dangerous, gold-flecked iris's; to High Lord Elena, whose eyes, grey like her fathers', hide her mysterious and powerful "other" sight. From Caerroil Wildwood, the Forestal of Garrotting Deep, and his orbs that, without pupil or iris, glow with a silver light; to the spectre of High Lord Kevin Landwaster, whose eyes are full of the effects of Desecration. From the yellow misery of Findail, Appointed of the Elohim, to the black perfection of Vain, Demondim-spawn, to the red cruelty of Lord Foul the Despiser. At one point, the Sun of Fertility is even desrcibed as being as green as "chrysoprase and Daphin's eyes".
So, my question is this. If the eyes are the gateway to the soul, what does that say about those characters such as Caer Caveral and Nom, and those creatures such as the waynhim and the ur-viles, that have no eyes. Admittedly, the Forestal has no eyes because Hile Troy was eyeless before he was transfromed, but the others are all creatures of immense power. Do you think that this is connected to their lack of normal vision in any way?
Sum sui generis
Vs
The gateway to the soul
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variol son
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The gateway to the soul
You do not hear, and so you cannot be redeemed.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
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duchess of malfi
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VS thank you for this topic 
I've always been fascinated with Hile Troy. Here was a man like TC but took a different path. It's very interesting that while he has no eyes, SRD still descibes his vision beautifully. I've tried to visualize what his "orbs" would look like in his eye sockets and failed.
Duchess that is a wonderful observation. Vain having eyes distinguishes it, almost as much as it's other features. I remember how in LFB the ur-viles were described as "Self-loathesome" and that they hated themselves, specially their eyelessness. Was Vain their perfect being? Created to be, everything they could not be. And if so, why did they not create this perfection earlier? True in the 2nd chronicles their alliances changed but Vain could have been made for a fell purpose before yes? Perhaps the hand of the creator was involved?
But that is another muse for another time. Indeed VS I think the eyes are well described and show glimpses into each characters personality as you have well shown
I've always been fascinated with Hile Troy. Here was a man like TC but took a different path. It's very interesting that while he has no eyes, SRD still descibes his vision beautifully. I've tried to visualize what his "orbs" would look like in his eye sockets and failed.
Duchess that is a wonderful observation. Vain having eyes distinguishes it, almost as much as it's other features. I remember how in LFB the ur-viles were described as "Self-loathesome" and that they hated themselves, specially their eyelessness. Was Vain their perfect being? Created to be, everything they could not be. And if so, why did they not create this perfection earlier? True in the 2nd chronicles their alliances changed but Vain could have been made for a fell purpose before yes? Perhaps the hand of the creator was involved?
But that is another muse for another time. Indeed VS I think the eyes are well described and show glimpses into each characters personality as you have well shown
Covenant recognized that this was a fact. But he had not expected such an argument from the Giant.
"Foamfollower'" he muttered, climbing out of his bed, "you've been thinking again."
from: "Lord Foul's Bane"
"Foamfollower'" he muttered, climbing out of his bed, "you've been thinking again."
from: "Lord Foul's Bane"
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duchess of malfi
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variol son
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I always saw the eyelessness of the ur-viles and the waynhim as being indicative of the fact that they were made and did not have the 'justification of birth" that other creatures did. Do you think that in some way they made up for their blindness by having more powerful lore?
Also, how do Nom and his fellow Sandgorgons fit into the picture, since they were born as far as we know. What do you think their eyelessness says about them? Does their eyelessness have anything to do with their power?
Sum sui generis
Vs
Also, how do Nom and his fellow Sandgorgons fit into the picture, since they were born as far as we know. What do you think their eyelessness says about them? Does their eyelessness have anything to do with their power?
Sum sui generis
Vs
You do not hear, and so you cannot be redeemed.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
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michaelcov
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I would have to say that the sandgorgons are creatures of lore rather then of law. It seems to fit the pattern anyway. Add to that the fact that a sandgorgon must complete a task if its name is spoken. So eyeless ness might indicate a lack of free will given to natural creatures. Even Hile Troy was doomed to fail because he came to the Land through an act of despair.
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variol son
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Oh, good point michaelcov. 
But didn't the Sandgorgons have no eyes before Kasreyn created Sandgorgons Doom and bound them to the summoning power of their names?
Sum sui generis
Vs
But didn't the Sandgorgons have no eyes before Kasreyn created Sandgorgons Doom and bound them to the summoning power of their names?
Sum sui generis
Vs
You do not hear, and so you cannot be redeemed.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
In the name of their ancient pride and humiliation, they had made commitments with no possible outcome except bereavement.
He knew only that they had never striven to reject the boundaries of themselves.
-
variol son
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 5777
- Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2002 1:07 pm
- Location: New Zealand
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Guest
Interesting idea...I do not recall the description of Nom, and do not have TOT handy to research, but did Nom not have some sort of membrane or slits like gills or something in lieu of human-like facial features? Perhaps this indicates a kinship and that they are indeed lore-borne as suggested by michaelcov. There is an inconsistency, or paradox, to this theory though, for the puissance of the Sandgorgons, with the possible exception of being able to rend a Raver, is in their swift strength rather than the lore-based strength of the Demondim spawn.I always saw the eyelessness of the ur-viles and the waynhim as being indicative of the fact that they were made and did not have the 'justification of birth" that other creatures did. Do you think that in some way they made up for their blindness by having more powerful lore?
Also, how do Nom and his fellow Sandgorgons fit into the picture, since they were born as far as we know. What do you think their eyelessness says about them? Does their eyelessness have anything to do with their power?