Who was the Elohim?

[Relayer]

Reading another thread just now I began to wonder (again)... Who was the Elohim that visited the Land, the Ramen, and undoubtedly others to warn them of the Halfhand?

Infelice? Chant? Random lackey? Could it even have been Kastenessen? It could make a huge difference as far as what their intentions were. Not that they gave a lot of info.

I assume any Elohim could disguise itself from the people of the Land. The Masters recognized him/her as Elohim, but it's never mentioned whether they knew which one, or if they even have the ability to tell.

[Unfettered One]

Personally, I think it was Esmer.

[dlbpharmd]

Personally, I think it was Esmer.

If that were true, Stave would have recognized him later at the Verge of Wandering. I think it was Chant.

[Ur Dead]

It was a special Elohim

Blatt the Land Roving Troll!

[Mr. Broken]

Chant was also my first guess.

[earthbrah]

Relayer wrote:

Infelice? Chant? Random lackey? Could it even have been Kastenessen? It could make a huge difference as far as what their intentions were. Not that they gave a lot of info.

It doesn't seem to me to be of huge import which particular Elohim made the warning. Whoever it was, the warning itself was cryptic enough as to be of virtually no value whatever. With so many halfhands around, how is one to interpret that, especially folks who have no clue about the history or nature of the Land because of the Masters?

However, due to Infelice's presence in Andelain, I might guess it was her. Then again, it could have been Daphin or Chant, or someone we've never heard of.

Damned Elohim!

[Relayer]

Personally, I think it was Esmer.

If that were true, Stave would have recognized him later at the Verge of Wandering. I think it was Chant.

The Ramen probably would have recognized him in that case too.

I also suspect it's Chant. But I can't really say why...

[dlbpharmd]

He's the most logical choice. Why would SRD invent a new Elohim character to fill this role when Chant could do so easily?

[SkurjMaster]

Guys and Gals,

My guess is also Infelice, since she is in the Land at the end of the FR. However, here is another thought (don't know how unique it is). Findail was Appointed in the last Chronicles, but from the perspective of the Elohim he failed. Thus, he was merged into the new staff. Maybe Infelice is now Appointed to pick up where Finny left off. Doesn't Linden still represent a danger to the Elohim?

[dlbpharmd]

Didn't the Elohim have a male appearance?

Skurjmaster, I agree with you that Infelice is probably Appointed now. We'll have to wait until AATE to see for certain.

[Fist and Faith]

Esmer is not an Elohim.

This one was certainly obnoxious enough to be Chant, eh?

[amanibhavam]

SRD may well think that it is irrelevant with regards to the further story development, so we may never find out who that was...

[Mr. Broken]

Agreed he is not an Elohim, but he is a really snappy dresser.

[earthbrah]

SkurjMaster wrote:

However, here is another thought (don't know how unique it is). Findail was Appointed in the last Chronicles, but from the perspective of the Elohim he failed. Thus, he was merged into the new staff. Maybe Infelice is now Appointed to pick up where Finny left off. Doesn't Linden still represent a danger to the Elohim?

If Infelice is indeed an Appointed, what exactly is her appointment? I get that Findail failed at his Appointment in the eyes of the Elohim, but at what exactly?

If Infelice was Appointed to ward a danger that the Wildwielder poses, I'd say that she also failed.

"Done, Timewarden? Done? She has roused the Worm of the World's End. Such magicks must be answered. Because of her madness and folly, every Elohim will be devoured."

Yeah, suck it!

[Mr. Broken]

Perhaps Infelice's Appointment has to do with a new Durance to bind the Skurj.

[earthbrah]

Which would necessarily involve dealing with Kastenessen at this point, seeing as he is part skurj himself.

That might explain why Infelice didn't actually interfere with Linden's actions in Andelain, why she only nagged annoyingly for Linden to stop but didn't actually do anything to stop her. It's not her job.

[SkurjMaster]

Earthbrah,

Assuming that Infelice is appointed, she may not yet have failed. Rememeber Findail as he tagged along in the second Chronicles. I may have to do some reading again, but for the most part Finny did not overtly intervene in the quest. If memory serves me, he, like the remainder of the Elohim, wanted Covenant to cede the ring to Linden. At the end he resisted Vain to no avail. At the Elomhimfest, Infelice blanked Covenant's mind, but did not wrest the ring from him.

All of this was, supposedly, in keeping with their Wurd (Weird, etc.) and I think that is what prevails now. They can only do so much without violating that. In that regard they seem to be somewhat like the Insequent. If they violate the standing guidelines of their kind, they cease to be a part of the main group. Consider both Kastenessen and the Mahdoubt.

Just some thoughts.

[Mr. Broken]

The problem with the Elohim is that they are too old, and they are slow learner's. You would think after a few failures, it might dawn on them that Appointment only works if the Appointee is willing, its an eternal committment, and given that much time any unwilling immortal will find their loophole to get out of it , just ask Kasty!

[Würd-o]

Findail did not fail.

Like all Elohim, he was equal to the need of the earth, being equal to the earth. However, like most Elohim for whom Appointment is decided, he was unable to meet the need through personal identity and free expression of würd. Instead, the need consumed his identity and his liberty in being met. Limiting self-expression is mournful, but the Appointment was fulfilled. The need of the earth was entire, and the staff was made anew. The Sunbane was exorcised.

As the need of foreshadowing isn't great enough to force an Elohim to meet it, I doubt seriously that the Elohim who warned of the halfhand was Appointed. Most likely, the Elohim simply found the warning to be in keeping with the expression of self at the time, and has long since gone on to embody some other elan.

[Relayer]

Appointment only works if the Appointee is willing,

But that might be the point of appointing. No Elohim wants to give themself up. Otherwise they'd be called the "Volunteered"