Ode to High Lord Elena

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Lament
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Post by Lament »

Reading this post after so many years made me weep. Funny because I never get so passionate about the refuse i usually write but this was from the heart, the the one I have now echoes the one I had then.

Ah Elena, a lifelong love I have for you.
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"
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ur-monkey
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Post by ur-monkey »

I really liked it too, and have always had a soft spot for Elena. I think you do SRD's poetic style very well...

Interesting also to read the subsequent discussion now with the hindsight and extra information afforded by Runes of the Earth.

:clap: :D
Quin, suffering from total amnesia, slowly discovers himself possessed of inexplicable abilities as his world expands...

https://www.quinsabduction.org/
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Lament
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Post by Lament »

*bows* thank you i'm humbled by your words. I still need to read the new series, embarassing but I guess but i'm looking forward to it.
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"
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iQuestor
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Post by iQuestor »

WOW. This should be moved to the Hall of Gifts.


I understand your deep feelings about Elena. I was haunted by the fate of the three bloodguard on the mission to search, and wrote a piece about that (which I am still finishing part 3..) It is exactly that quality of writing by SRD that gathers such as we here.




Awesome job :D
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Tjol
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Post by Tjol »

At least Elena was given opportunity to laugh over the despiser with the other Lords.

And for what it's also worth, there is something in Elena's mistake that unlocked the secret of the Ritual of Descration to Lord Mhoram, which helped Mhoram to destroy a portion of the Illearth Stone.

In the stories, victory can also be defeat.... but also defeat can be a victory.

Great writing. I like the manner of language used too, I don't know what about it, but it feels like it would fit into the world of the character.
"Humanity indisputably progresses, but neither uniformly nor everywhere"--Regine Pernoud

You work while you can, because who knows how long you can. Even if it's exhausting work for less pay. All it takes is the 'benevolence' of an incompetant politician or bureaucrat to leave you without work to do and no paycheck to collect. --Tjol
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danlo
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Post by danlo »

iQ wrote:This should be moved to the Hall of Gifts.

...no I like it too much, they'll never take it away form me! :D
fall far and well Pilots!
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Alsem
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Post by Alsem »

Just read and loved it. Really awesome !!!
My heart still possess a wondrous shining place
Where dwells love, immaculate to behold
And this treasure, more precious than gold
I fear to lose in Time and insidious solace

Visit my Blog
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The Dark Overlord
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Post by The Dark Overlord »

Lament, this is an absolutely awesome piece! Truly inspired, I hate :( :cry: to offer ANY criticism of it -even if it is only about a technicality and has nothing to do with(and does not take away from) the quality of the piece itself- nevertheless, in your piece you called Elena the LAST of the GREAT high lords and I must speak up for Mhoram and defend his honor. After reading "Lord Mhoram's Victory" how can he NOT be the last great high lord? Just a thought.
Mhorram's Revenge
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Post by Mhorram's Revenge »

Great effort Lament!

Elena was certainly a captivating character - SRD captured her allure and strength, and finally her insanity, exceedingly well.

For what its worth, I think the Ranyhin did have a purpose in taking Elena to the horserite beyond honouring TC. They knew the servants of the land were to be tested in the coming generation in a way that hadn't happened in thousands of years, and they were trying to give Elena something of their knowledge and wisdom to equip her to help the land in its need. Why they chose her, possibly because they sensed a potential greatness in her, or maybe she was the only child they'd had ride them, is an interesting question. They certainly weren't trying to USE her, IMO, but rather help her. Unfortunately she misunderstood their lesson and it, combined with the wrong opportunity at the wrong time, and some manipulation by TC, led her to her disaster.

I think its there another interesting question in that to what extent is Triock meant to be embittered and to what extent is he speaking for SRD when he claims that Elena was flawed from birth? Is SRD arguing, and there are lines that certainly suggest this, that Elena's tragedy could in one way be entirely laid at the feet of TC's crime against Lena, and that the whole event was a form of punishment against TC for his crime. The idea that your misdeeds will haunt you and grow in consequence, especially when you don't fully attempt to heal them or atone for them, is one thing. Arguing that because she was the child of rape she was incapable of ever being anything other than a failure/tragedy/disaster is another, and seems very harsh. Do people think that SRD is in fact arguing that?
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Ur Dead
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Post by Ur Dead »

Would you called her Elena Vowbreaker ? I would have though that title for the Bloodguard. Like Bannor Vowbreaker.

Elena broke the law of death or the ability of the dead to roam the land.

Wouldn't she be called Elena Lawbreaker or Elena Deathreaver? Then of course she was referred as Elena Foulwife.

Great poem.
What's this silver looking ring doing on my finger?
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The Dark Overlord
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Post by The Dark Overlord »

I think Mhoram's Revenge may be right- although it is overly harsh I do believe that it is being asserted that Eleana was flawed and Elena's tragedy was (at worst) predetermined by Covenant's crime or (at least) the seed of what happened was planted by his crime.
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