Not a joke!

[Mr. Broken]

How many Masters does it take to safeguard the land, it took 500 Bloodguard to protect the Council of Lords, so how many Masters does it take. Is it possible that there are many more than the few encountered so far.

[sweetbread]

From what I've gathered about the Land, is that many of the places are fairly isolated, and basically "ruled" by a handful of Masters.... didn't Mithil Stonedown have only 3 Masters present when Linden first entered? I'm assuming that there aren't many Masters present; aside from the company at revelstone, I would think that each settlement or town would add 2 or 3 more to those numbers....

There aren't many Masters, because there hasn't really been any overt threats to the Land, and no source of general rule over the Land. In the past, the Bloodguard have been the "secret service" of the Lords, who have stood against the overt waring of Foul. This time around though, doesn't appear that there's much need for that many Masters.

Maybe we'll learn that there are those Haruchai who, like Stave, have resisted against the judgements of the Masters. The Bloodguard may return in the latter books to oppose the Masters. How cool would that be?

[Fist and Faith]

As was the case between Berek's war and Foul vs Kevin, betwen Foul vs Kevin and the First Chrons, and between the First Chrons and the Second Chrons, there have been a few millennia and between the Second Chrons and the Final Chrons. The Masters haven't had to "safeguard" the Land all that much. They've only had to prevent anyone from learning about the Earthpower, and imprison those who have any ability with it before they learn how to use it very well. All in all, not beyond the abilities of the three Masters guarding a particular area. Especially when the Masters are the only ones not bothered by Kevin's Dirt.

[Mortice Root]

sweetbread wrote

Maybe we'll learn that there are those Haruchai who, like Stave, have resisted against the judgements of the Masters. The Bloodguard may return in the latter books to oppose the Masters.

Maybe, although my feeling is that Stave is pretty unique - that it was his time with Linden that led to his rejection of the Masters. I think that if there were a bunch of "rebel former Masters" it would take away from Stave's alteration.

[Mr. Broken]

Mortice perhaps you've touched on a deeper issue here, perhaps the Master's intend for Stave not to survive his journey with Linden, keep his uniqueness ( is that even a word ) from infecting the rest of the Haruchai with independant thought, of course Stave himself probably would have picked up on that were it the case. That doesnt mean that he would even mention it though, he strikes me as rather selfless.

[Rigel]

How many Masters does it take to safeguard the land

Exactly as many as there are. They "suffice"

perhaps the Master's intend for Stave not to survive his journey with Linden, keep his uniqueness ( is that even a word ) from infecting the rest of the Haruchai with independant thought

I doubt that. It doesn't seem that they aren't actually out to kill people, just imprison them in Revelstone so they can't do any damage elsewhere.

[Mr. Broken]

I guess I could point out again that there were'nt 500 Lords again.

[Man Of Westernesse]

1. Maybe we'll learn that there are those Haruchai who, like Stave, have resisted against the judgements of the Masters.
2.The Bloodguard may return in the latter books to oppose the Masters. How cool would that be?

1. I tend to doubt it too. Stave is unique in this I think.
2. Not cool at all? (Bloodguard/haruchai fighting Masters/haruchai) - no, I wouldn't like to see it I think. Stave will eventually win the Masters to the right path.

[IrrationalSanity]

Even the Masters have a little bit of a check/balance built in. There was one of those infamous "in passing" statements early on that I'm sure is going to come into play later (but probalby not until the final crisis, as such things are wont to do...).

The three Humbled can overturn a decision by the head Master (I forget his title just now...). You can bet your bottom dollar that this will happen.

[Man Of Westernesse]

The 'Voice of the Masters' is the title you're thinking of, I think.

& yes, you are right - the 3 Humbled together can potentially overrule him. And the Humbled are with Linden & Stave, and can (eventually) be convinced of the right path? (They are already more 'cooperative' than they might have been in the beginning).

[IrrationalSanity]

Thanks, That's the one!

Now... We wait...