Some things that strike me....

[Xar]

I suspect that Jeremiah's control on the part of the croyel is an aberration: in other words, that croyels normally do not control their hosts, but Jeremiah's case is an exception. But whether this exception is due to the fact that Jeremiah appears to still be in a vegetative-like state, or due to the fact that there was no bargain involved (i.e. the croyel was attached to Jeremiah and that was it), a mixture of both or some other reason altogether. Of course, Jeremiah's fate was hinted to by Foul himself in Runes: "If he serves me, he will do so in your presence".

Anyway, here's another related question. Did the croyel in White Gold Wielder (the one attached to the Arghuleh) made a deal with its host? Was the Arghuleh actually sentient enough to do so? Or did the croyel simply attach itself like a parasite and control the Arghuleh's actions afterwards?

It seems clear from the Kemper that the croyel do not always possess people, anyway - though we do not really know what the croyel got from the bargain with the Kemper, we do know that the Kemper supposedly got long life out of the bargain.

Incidentally, what of the other croyels? If these creatures are a race (no matter how few in numbers) how will the others react upon learning that one of their own plans to escape the world and have an active part in destroying it, and its brethren with it?

[wayfriend]

The quote I posted up-thread indicates that the arguleh are more similar to Jeremiah than Kasreyn.

[Relayer]

though we do not really know what the croyel got from the bargain with the Kemper, we do know that the Kemper supposedly got long life out of the bargain.

The croyel probably wanted the chance to possess white gold and knew that Kasreyn would someday have the chance to get it.

Likewise, Roger tells Linden "the croyel thinks I should have tried harder to get the ring."

[Zarathustra]

Thanks for the info.

I'm not so sure about Liand and the Orcrest being so benign. I think there may be some sneaky going on there. Kind of along the lines of a false red herring.
Wouldn't be the first time.

I think your impression might prove to be correct. After all, the Orcrest also has the ability to make Anele sane--the character who is supposed to save the Land in the end. I think his sanity, and the secrets it holds, is part of the fundamental solution here. His insanity is hiding something very important. So we can't simply dismiss the Orcrest, since it holds the power to reveal this secret.

[SGuilfoyle1966]

I think your impression might prove to be correct. After all, the Orcrest also has the ability to make Anele sane--the character who is supposed to save the Land in the end. I think his sanity, and the secrets it holds, is part of the fundamental solution here. His insanity is hiding something very important. So we can't simply dismiss the Orcrest, since it holds the power to reveal this secret.

Since you put it that way, my guess is someone in the forthcoming books is going to put it exactly that way. Possibly near the end of the next book. And as they attempt to use it to heal Anele, someone is going to shatter it.

If it's that important, and that simple, ithas to be, with SRD, NOT THAT EASY.
Remember what Orcrest is.

A ipece of the One Rock. The one stone. They are not going through all this, Anele having no friends but stone and NOT get him to what would then, ultimately, be his best bud.

But in that regard, the orcrest is important. Liand's connectin to it is VERY important.

Found at Revelstone, it might be the stone of Sunder himself. I think that survived.

But I also wonder about it How is it that Anele has so quickly become so adept with it. he has no training, no background, and Linden has no real guidance to give him, yet he pulls off some amazing feats with it.

He's brought rain. Think about that.

it took Trell searching for days to find an orcrest, AND Atiaran using her lore to sing a song of power for Trell to break the stone and bring rain.

What a thing to have to endure in a courtship.

I can make your daughter happy.

Yeah, but can you make RAIN?