And where were the rest of the Haruchai?

[Soarback Grayhare]

A wise man, possibly a Lord or a frustrated forum member, once said, "It boots nothing to discuss plot points, for plot points are the sole providence of the author, and any attempt to wish an alternate direction of the plot inevitably, destroys the entire storyline."

However wise that saying is, I have to ask, because, well, I just do. It's none of your business why.

Well known Land history: back in the days of High Lord Kevin, the Haruchai, being a prolific and strong loined race, inevitably sent an army to the land and challenged Kevin. Kevin would not fight and so impressed the Haruchai, that 500 of them swore a Vow to serve the Lords, and the rest returned home.

OK, well and good, but it makes me wonder- where the heck were they when the last battles were being fought against Foul? The army of the Haruchai does not make another appearance in the series (as far as I remember- even in TWL, I got the impression that groups came down and were captured, but not an entire army). Every time a Bloodguard is killed, he is sent back and another takes his place. Fine, but when the Land was at war with Foul, and losing bad enough that Kevin was getting pretty desperate, wouldn't it make sense for a Bloodguard to ride up into the mountains and bring an army of these super warriors back? If nothing else, stick a note on one of the dead Bloodguard that says "Hey, a little help here?" when you send the next one back.

Is it ever explained why the rest stayed away? Nobody ever even came down to settle in a nice place in retirement or anything.

[dlbpharmd]

The Bloodguard didn't send for help due to 2 words, glibly spoken by Bannor in LFB:

"We suffice."

[wayfriend]

Agreed.

Also: remember that, from the Bloodguard's point of view, it's not their fight. Their service is in repayment for Kevin's welcoming generosity, not because they want to fight Foul.

[High Lord Tolkien]

In the WL the last group that came was 100.
"A veritable army in their eyes".

[Rawedge Rim]

Got to admit though, the driving urgency of the Haruchi was to test themselves against everyone else. I am a bit surprised they didn't send at least a couple of thousand at Lord Foul just to see how they would do.

[peter]

I deem it that any force that could beat 500 Haruchai could beat any number and in this is the explanation of Bannor's 'glib' response. [ie it may be extented to 'We suffice to provide the maximum aid that the Haruchai people can give. That which we cannot prevail over will neither be won by 1000, nor yet 10,000 Haruchai'.]

[Rawedge Rim]

I deem it that any force that could beat 500 Haruchai could beat any number and in this is the explanation of Bannor's 'glib' response. [ie it may be extented to 'We suffice to provide the maximum aid that the Haruchai people can give. That which we cannot prevail over will neither be won by 1000, nor yet 10,000 Haruchai'.]

Could be any one of two things also:

1. A cultural blind spot (if one Haruchai can kill 40 other combantants, then 2000 should be able to handle any force they can imagine). This doesn't account for a force larger than that however.

2. While the Haruchai as a whole might be "more" (As Bannor stated), it may not be a hugely numerous amount, and 2000 (the amount sent into the Land originally) may be the largest gathering of warriors the Haruchai could afford to send and still remain a viable people.

[peter]

Yes - thats a salient point; the terrain they live in is limited and is not going to provide for a massive population size. Hence one of the reasons they came down from the mountains at all - to conquer new lands to provide for their families.