The Seven Words

[sherlock_525]

Just for you man. Just for you.

[emotional leper]

Just for you man. Just for you.

Hey. I've long been looking for proof that it is possible for the head to 'splode from WTF levels over 7.35. Unfortunately, in the laboratory, we have only been able to generate WTF Levels of 3.22, which barely causes a gerbil to get stuck in Richard Gere.

[Atrium]

Roger does seem to be capable of things that Linden are not; teleporting, timetraveling (without caesures), setting up a "Forbidding" (like the Lords used to barr passage). To me it clearly indicates that he has been taught to use his powers. Lindens main trick seems to be blasting her enemies with her staff, or in some occasions tuning her healt sense to her staff to accomplish things like closing a caesure.

[sherlock_525]

Hey Leper, you ever hear of "Killer Klowns From Outer Space"? That ranks a 6.5, but doesn't suck bad enough to kill.

[emotional leper]

Hey Leper, you ever hear of "Killer Klowns From Outer Space"? That ranks a 6.5, but doesn't suck bad enough to kill.

I have. I actually have a somewhat personal connection to that film.

[sherlock_525]

How's that?

[emotional leper]

How's that?

A relative is in it, in a rather particular role.

[Stutty]

Oh c'mon EL. No need to be so obscure.. fess up!

I vaguely remember a very intoxicated night watching that film on VHS way back in the late 80's I think.

Loved how the clowns used the balloon animals.

oh yeah..
7 words...

nope, can't save this post.

stutt

[emotional leper]

Oh c'mon EL. No need to be so obscure.. fess up!

I vaguely remember a very intoxicated night watching that film on VHS way back in the late 80's I think.

Loved how the clowns used the balloon animals.

oh yeah..
7 words...

nope, can't save this post.

stutt

Wait. I might possibly be thinking of the wrong movie. Is it Basket Case 3 or Killer Clowns from Outer Space that has a Cop Dancing Around in Nothing but a Leopard Print Speedo?

[sherlock_525]

Dude...(disgusted sigh)...nevermind I don't want to know.

[MsMary]

ad: "- It destroys the mythology of the back story of the series, by exposing what happened directly and eliminating much of the cool stuff (such as the Earth speaking to Berek)"

It doesn't, not in my book. It provides a wholly plausible story to see how those legends came into existence, that the Earth didn't actually speak to Berek just the poor blighter could not interpret it otherwise. We know now an answer to the perplexing question how the legend of the white gold came was born in the first place when white gold per se cannot be found in the Land except the two Covenant-rings: Berek saw/felt it on Linden's neck, did not understand a bit of it perhaps but it was enough to create a legend.
The Land/the story is full of magic anyway, begging us to suspend our disbelief at nearly every corner. It is _nice_ to know that some things have an everyday explanation after all. For me, anyway.

I agree with this POV.

[Zarathustra]

I haven't checked into this forum in a while. I'm thinking about rereading FR. Some parts, I just can't get out of my head. Actually, it might be fun to reread Runes and FR back-to-back.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I wanted to come here and say that Linden using the 7 words at the end of Part 1 was one of the coolest scenes in all the Chronicles. I know I've had my problems with the motivation and plot structure up to this point, but from sheer narrative force, pure dramatic achievement . . . that's a cool scene. Of course, the fact that it's a culmination of something which began two Chronicles ago, adds to its force. The recent revelation of the 7th word and how Linden learns the whole string while in the past, ties together this almost "cinematic" depiction of Linden screaming these words while wielding an Earthblood-powered Staff of Law, with the rich history of those words in terms of Donaldson's mythology. That scene reverberates, both in its own right and throughout the entire canvas of Donaldson's creation.

But more than anything, I was amazed how the recitation moved me. We've gotten so used to seeing wizards recite spells, speaking a bunch of nonsense that we're supposed to take seriously, that the whole technique has become ironically mundane. But as a means to depict badass-character-moments, this scene reinvented the whole idea of using spoken spells to enact one's will. It felt like Linden was reclaiming the technique, justifying the use of this highly melodramatic character action by making it dramatic. Showing every other author out there: that's how you use magic words in a battle.

[dlbpharmd]

I wanted to come here and say that Linden using the 7 words at the end of Part 1 was one of the coolest scenes in all the Chronicles. I know I've had my problems with the motivation and plot structure up to this point, but from sheer narrative force, pure dramatic dramatic achievement . . . that's a cool scene. Of course, the fact that it's a culmination of something which began two Chronicles ago, adds to its force. The recent revelation of the 7th word and how Linden learns the whole string while in the past, ties together this almost "cinematic" depiction of Linden screaming these words while wielding an Earthblood-powered Staff of Law, with the rich history of those words in terms of Donaldson's mythology. That scene reverberates, both in its own right and throughout the entire canvas of Donaldson's creation.

Well said.

[sherlock_525]

Very well said...if only I was capable of such elequince

[dlbpharmd]

ron beck: after re-reading the previous books in the series I am about half way through the Fatal Revenant, and the (missing) 7th word of power (Harad) is finally revealed. If the Theomach is to be believed, it signifies that anyone using the words of power may not wield Earthpower to advance the cause of Despair.

In the earlier books when the Words of Power are invoked, this one is not used. Will we discover the possible philosophical ramifications of this omission, or am I thinking too much about this?

or (even more likely) is it a Read and Find Out?

In this case, I don't think there's much explanantion required. In one way or another, Kevin is responsible for what the "new" Lords both do and do not know. So if *you* were contemplating performing a Ritual of Desecration, which of the Seven Words would *you* suppress? In other words, I think it's obvious that the "loss" of that particular word was Kevin's doing.

(01/21/2008)

[Ur Dead]

I wanted to come here and say that Linden using the 7 words at the end of Part 1 was one of the coolest scenes in all the Chronicles. I know I've had my problems with the motivation and plot structure up to this point, but from sheer narrative force, pure dramatic dramatic achievement . . . that's a cool scene. Of course, the fact that it's a culmination of something which began two Chronicles ago, adds to its force. The recent revelation of the 7th word and how Linden learns the whole string while in the past, ties together this almost "cinematic" depiction of Linden screaming these words while wielding an Earthblood-powered Staff of Law, with the rich history of those words in terms of Donaldson's mythology. That scene reverberates, both in its own right and throughout the entire canvas of Donaldson's creation.

Well said.

Yes well said..

and with seven words and staff, Linden Avery cracked Melekurion Skyweir and created Rivenrock.

[Zarathustra]

Thanks, guys! I'm looking forward to the Dissection.

[Endymion9]

I liked the seven words being revealed and Linden's use of them under Melekurion Skyweir, but then it seemed to belittle them that she used them openly at just about any confrontation afterward. I would have thought they would be similar to drinking the earthblood. So much power accessed that it would burn up her flesh to start using them continuously.

[Relayer]

IIRC, the Lords used them pretty often too, even when not in battle... didn't they say "Melenkurion!" as an interjection, like if someone said they were afraid, or that the Despiser would destroy them, Mhoram or Hyrim or whoever would exclaim "Melenkurion! Do not think such things!"

[MsMary]

I remember that, too, Relayer.

(And damnit, your avatar makes me want to go skiing. )