Vain's escape

A place to discuss the books in the FC and SC. *Please Note* No LC spoilers allowed in this forum. Do so in the forum below.

Moderators: Orlion, kevinswatch

User avatar
Isildurs Bane
Woodhelvennin
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 5:10 pm
Location: Ireland

Post by Isildurs Bane »

I disagree
User avatar
MrKABC
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm
Location: Barrow, AK

Post by MrKABC »

Isildurs Bane wrote:I disagree
You disagree with... ?

I think Pitchwife was one of the finer characters in the second chronicles. He was loyal, resourceful, and always of good cheer.
"This is the grace that has been given to you - to bear what must be borne."
User avatar
drew
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 7877
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 4:20 pm
Location: Canada
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Post by drew »

I thought Pitchwife was great myself.
It was neat how he was the only one in the quest-other than TC himself-that liked Linden.
I thought you were a ripe grape
a cabernet sauvignon
a bottle in the cellar
the kind you keep for a really long time
User avatar
MrKABC
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm
Location: Barrow, AK

Post by MrKABC »

drew wrote:I thought Pitchwife was great myself.
It was neat how he was the only one in the quest-other than TC himself-that liked Linden.
HAHAHAHAHA!! Good one Drew, I never caught that before... :D
"This is the grace that has been given to you - to bear what must be borne."
User avatar
Lord Doom
Woodhelvennin
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: Lord Foul's Lair

Post by Lord Doom »

Nom>Vain

That would be an awesome battle though
User avatar
dlbpharmd
Lord
Posts: 14462
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 9:27 am
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by dlbpharmd »

My money's on Nom.
User avatar
MrKABC
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm
Location: Barrow, AK

Post by MrKABC »

dlbpharmd wrote:My money's on Nom.
I'd go with Vain - Nom would approach him, Vain would make a clawing gesture, and Nom's head would be ripped off... :lol:
"This is the grace that has been given to you - to bear what must be borne."
User avatar
drew
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 7877
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2004 4:20 pm
Location: Canada
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Post by drew »

I'd have to agree, besides after TC freed him, Nom turned into kind of a pussy.
I thought you were a ripe grape
a cabernet sauvignon
a bottle in the cellar
the kind you keep for a really long time
User avatar
Lord Doom
Woodhelvennin
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:53 pm
Location: Lord Foul's Lair

Post by Lord Doom »

Nom a pussy???

WTF?

Nom just respected the White Gold. So did Vain.

Vain can be hurt too, that was made evident during his struggle with Findal.

Purpose was what kept Vain alive there.

My money is on Nom.
User avatar
MrKABC
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm
Location: Barrow, AK

Post by MrKABC »

Lord Doom wrote:Nom a pussy???

WTF?

Nom just respected the White Gold. So did Vain.

Vain can be hurt too, that was made evident during his struggle with Findal.

Purpose was what kept Vain alive there.

My money is on Nom.
Nom wouldn't get within ten feet of Vain without being destroyed. Vain had the ability to project his power without physically touching the other person.

Also, the fact that Vain SURVIVED the struggle with Findail, an Elohim that could pretty much do anything and be anything he wanted, seems to indicate that Nom would have been easily defeated. ;)
"This is the grace that has been given to you - to bear what must be borne."
User avatar
dlbpharmd
Lord
Posts: 14462
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 9:27 am
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by dlbpharmd »

Let's think about that for a moment. From WGW, chapter 17:
"You must now be swift," Findail said. He sounded strangely urgent. "There are Cavewights nigh."

Without warning, he sped past the companions, flashed back into the rocklight like a striking condor.

As he hurtled down the roadway, his form melted out of humanness and assumed the shape of a Sandgorgon.

Fatal as a bludgeon, he crashed headlong against the Demondim-spawn.

Vain made no effort to evade the impact. Ye he could not withstand it. Findail was Earthpower incarnate. The shock of collision made the road lurch, sent tremors like wailing through the stone. Vain had proved himself stronger than Giants or storms, impervious to spears and the na-Mhoram's Grim. He had felt the power of the Worm of the World's End and had survived, though that touch had cost him the use of one arm. He had escaped alone from Elemesnedene and all the Elohim. But Findail hit him with such concentrated might that he was driven backward.
We all know the rest of the story, don't we?

MrK makes a good point about Vain's ability to project his power, but in this case when he did not make use of that power, the Sandgorgon (not Nom in this instance but would there be any difference?) was clearly the stronger.

For the first time, I see this scene in a whole new light. Like Brinn and the Guardian, and Hamako and the croyel, Vain achieves ultimate victory through sacrifice.
User avatar
MrKABC
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 6:49 pm
Location: Barrow, AK

Post by MrKABC »

dlbpharmd makes a good point about a physical contest - but IMHO the reason Vain didn't defend himself in the above passage was in order to lure Findail close to him to hold on to the Elohim.

Later in WGW, there is a passage that Findail says Vain compelled him to preserve the ur-vile from harm.

If Vain were weak, how could he compel an Elohim to do anything? No one else could...

Good argument dlbpharmd but my money is still on Vain... :wink:
"This is the grace that has been given to you - to bear what must be borne."
User avatar
dlbpharmd
Lord
Posts: 14462
Joined: Thu Sep 11, 2003 9:27 am
Been thanked: 2 times

Post by dlbpharmd »

And I think you've persuaded me, MrK.
Post Reply

Return to “The First and Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant”