"Beware the halfhand"

[wayfriend]

I think it's worth pointing out that everyone who summoned Covenant died

Indeed, is there any other way to go back to the real world?

BTW, in Runes it says two times that Joan is the summoner. I'm not sure how that could be, since she wasn't (make that 'didn't seem to be') on that side. And she was toasted by lightning before -- but distinctly before -- the summonsing! Wha?!?!?!

[native]

Indeed, is there any other way to go back to the real world?

Well Covenant almost sent Linden back at the end of 'The one Tree' so the answer to your question is probably 'yes.'

BTW, in Runes it says two times that Joan is the summoner. I'm not sure how that could be, since she wasn't (make that 'didn't seem to be') on that side. And she was toasted by lightning before -- but distinctly before -- the summonsing! Wha?!?!?!

A dead summoner summoning almost dead people to a dieing Land. I detect a theme emerging

[I'm Murrin]

BTW, in Runes it says two times that Joan is the summoner. I'm not sure how that could be, since she wasn't (make that 'didn't seem to be') on that side. And she was toasted by lightning before -- but distinctly before -- the summonsing! Wha?!?!?!

I believe the idea was that the unnatural lightning was used to summon Joan (killing her in the process - similar to TC's summoning in tWL), who then used White Gold from within the Land to summon the others (I think perhaps Foul couldn't summon Linden on his own - he needed the White Gold to do it).

[Krilly]

Has anyone mentioned Jerimiah? I think he's the key in all of this.

Bah, why didn't he use plural form?

"Beware all those bloody halfhands..."

[amanibhavam]

I think it's worth pointing out that everyone who summoned Covenant died

Indeed, is there any other way to go back to the real world?

BTW, in Runes it says two times that Joan is the summoner. I'm not sure how that could be, since she wasn't (make that 'didn't seem to be') on that side. And she was toasted by lightning before -- but distinctly before -- the summonsing! Wha?!?!?!

If one looks at this issue from the inside point of view - i.e. the the-Land-is-TC-externalized thing - one might say that each summoner represents one crucial aspect of TC's mind or thought process or psyche or problems (pick your choice there) which he must overcome in order to step back into reality and carry on with everyday life, a step forward to his ultimate redemption by himself.

[Prover of Life]

Has anyone mentioned Jerimiah? I think he's the key in all of this.

Bah, why didn't he use plural form?

"Beware all those bloody halfhands..."

I was re-reading last night and just noticed Jeremiah has a half-hand. His right hand has partial thumb and last two fingers.

[NightBlaze]

I seen that too Prover. Beware of a child though???
Maybe the kid is tied to Foul more than we know. Correct me if I am wrong here, but wasnt he one of the kids that put his hand in the fire in The Wounded Land? I thought I read that somewhere but cant find it now.
Back to the pages for me!

[Prover of Life]

I seen that too Prover. Beware of a child though???

Well, Jeremiah seems to be creative in some way. Everything we've seen so far reveals this. The danger may be the destruction of 'their' world - not necessarily real but figuratively - and how he would reconstruct it. Jeremiah - not being from the Land - would definately be capable of something.

If we just knew what that car is all about???????????[/quote]

[Prover of Life]

I think it's worth pointing out that everyone who summoned Covenant died

Indeed, is there any other way to go back to the real world?

BTW, in Runes it says two times that Joan is the summoner. I'm not sure how that could be, since she wasn't (make that 'didn't seem to be') on that side. And she was toasted by lightning before -- but distinctly before -- the summonsing! Wha?!?!?!

Was the lightning natural or a vehicle of transport? Just as TC was stabbed and slowly dying, Joan could have been transported in the milliseconds before death. She may even be trapped in time between those seconds - kinda like an event horizon - reliving the agony.

Ok, thats lame but i'm tired.

[MrKABC]

If Joan is the summoner, that would seem to indicate that she (and her ring) are under the influence of Lord Foul. He would have had to teach her the uses of the ring in order to complete the summoning of Linden (and others, including Sheriff Lytton).

Soooo... my question is that if Lord Foul already HAS access to a white gold ring, why is he bothering with summoning others, his intricate plans, etc. Why not just blow up the Arch and be done with it? He could use the Staff of Law to suppress TC from protecting the Arch.

<puzzled>

[dlbpharmd]

Easy answer there - Joan is a tool of Foul's. Her broken condition leaves her with no free will of her own, and as such Foul cannot use her to break the AoT.

[NightBlaze]

I think I have the answer to the question. I dont think Joans ring would do the trick. Remember these few things. Mhoram told TC "You are the white gold." Later, Daphin tells Chant in TOT "No, the ring is his. Its mark lies deeply in him." Then go back to LFB. The creator handled TC's ring for a moment after TC put it in the mans bowl with the coins. I think the ring makes the real case here being the it MUST be TC's ring, and I think Lindens access to it is still not fully open. I think this will all come back to TC in the end. Remember further, the white gold has to be GIVEN freely. It wasnt. Linden simply picked it up after TC was blasted with it.
I need more coffee....LOL

[ur-bane]

Remember further, the white gold has to be GIVEN freely. It wasnt. Linden simply picked it up after TC was blasted with it.
I need more coffee....LOL

IIRC, Covenant did in fact give the ring to Linden. He told her to pick it up. If I had my books here I'd quote the text.
Covenant's white gold ring is very much Linden's now.

As far as anything else, I am too tired to think now. Where's the yawning smiley when you need him?

[Prebe]

Krilly is right I think.

The halfhand everybody needs to beware is Jeremiah. Harmless as he is on earth I am sure that The Land combined with Lord Fouls malice will be enough to turn him to "The Dark Side".

Again remember Hile Troy: Handicaped in his native world, tremendously powerfull in the land.

My money is on Jeremiah. Linden is in for a nasty surprise

[Warmark]

I wouldnt say being a rubbish tactition is a great power...

[Prebe]

I was thinking of his sight, that would make Legolas seem like a mole. The exact opposite of his real world handicap: Blind as a bat.

[safetyjedi]

The next book is going to be a wild ride!

[Prebe]

100 % totally agree. A ride that I look forward to with some anticipation.

[lurch]

...Please take into consideration who is spreadin the word,,whos appearing out of nowhere , back in town,,telling everybody " beware of the Halfhand"..Why its the Elohim..maybe even half Elohim Esmer. But it is obvious that its Elohim.

Now ..why would the Elohim be spreadin such gossip...and an obtuse reference at that ?..Its not,,Don't heed the Halfhand,,or Kill the Kid...etc. etc..No..its just , Beware of the Halfhand. Perhaps the Elohim can see far enuf to be concerned about their own fate. Afterall the base rock of the Land is highly concerned with Lindens presense.

Its possible the whispering campaign by the Elohim is just a clue,,Shes in Love with Him..beware! Maybe even from a Spiritual perspective, Linden being in Love with Tom The Dead Man is perceived to be messed up.

Now ,,we still don't know which Halfhand they're talkin about. And maybe thats why they refer to the general Halfhand..I mean..are they talking about Tom as the Arch of Time Halfhand, or Tom on horseback comin out from the Demondim Halfhand? I discount the maimed Haruchi ..and jerry because his fault would be of ignorance..Thats too easy. Its possible all of 'em , including Ole Berek from the dead, form a League of the HalfHand.But ummm, yea well,,. No..comin from the Elohim I'd say the message possibly has some self interest to it. The deadman is going to have some major influence of the Ring and Staff Holder. Beware!!....MEL

[ur-bane]

Before anything else, lurch. I need to ask you a question.

You have stated repeatedly in this thread and others that "Maybe even from a Spiritual perspective, Linden being in Love with Tom The Dead Man is perceived to be messed up." Granted, these exact words were not used in all instances, but your message remains the same.

How exactly, in a spiritual sense, or any sense for that matter, is it "messed up?"

I have friends who have lost their wives/mothers/fathers. Every single one of them still love their lost. Loving doesn't stop just because someone dies.

You could argue that Linden fell in love with Covenant knowing he was going to die in the real world. And it would seem a valid point. Why let yourself love in the first place if that is the case? Why? Because you can't dictate to yourself how you are going to feel about someone as you get to know them.
Linden shared months in the Land with Covenant, during which time she grew to love him. He was alive in the Land. For those months, the Land was their real world. Linden's experiences with Covenant taught her to love him. That is undeniable fact.

IMO, this anti-Linden-because-she-loves-a-dead-man stance is rubbish. It is a perfectly natural feeling; and longing for the lost, wishing you could have things the way they were, is also perfectly natural.

Now, about the Halfhand. So far with what Runes tells me, the obvious choice as to whom to "beware" is Covenant. Once again, knowing that the Law of Death is broken, the Elohim have cause to fear Covenant. As usual, their self-righteousness won;t allow for any other path but that which they see. They were wrong once, they could be wrong again.
Furthermore, in my eyes, the Elohim appearing in the Land in the first place tells me that he was Appointed. Why else would an Elohim venture beyond the bounds of their clachan?

Based on that fact, I think ther more important question with regards to the Elohim is "What was he Appointed to accomplish?"
"Beware the Halfhand" is secondary, as that is something the Elohim would say regardless of the circumstances.

As far as who exactly is the Halfhand....history points to Covenant, and I believe that he is the Halfhand to which they are referring.

Spoiler

Somewhere during my reads I formulated the idea that once again the Elohim are mistaken, and their attempts to thwart Covenant are actually going to aid in Jeremiah's achievements, much like Findail's attempts furthered the cause.

We already know that we must beware of Jeremiah because

Spoiler

of the transition that has taken place in him that is evidenced on the last page of Runes.

We already know we have to beware of

Spoiler

this Covenant riding toward Revelstone because Covenant was dead at the end of WGW.

Aside from Anele and Hollian, who else has directly "benefitted" from the breaking of the Law of life (by once again living in the flesh after death)?...and also who has the lore to perform such an act?

What other "Halfhand" could there possibly be? Berek? Roger? Did Sherriff Lytton make it to the Land with a maimed hand from a gunshot?

While possible, I think it highly unlikely that it is any of those. Which leaves only two choices. T.C. or Jeremiah. I see it as a warning against Covenant

Spoiler

that should be a warning against Jeremiah, and the Elohim just don't know it yet

.