Kevin's Watch

This chapter begins with Linden departing Revelstone with the dawn, Ranyhyn-mounted and accompanied by Stave, blind-mad Anele, Manethrall Martiir and his cords, Bhapa and Pahni, and the humbled: Branl, Galt and Clyme.

The chapter is so named because there are many sons that come into play: Esmer, son of Cail and merewives; Roger, son of Thomas Covenant; the Sandgorgons, arguably sons of Nom; And don't forget, Anele, son of Holian and Sunder. Have I missed any relevant examples?

Arguably, this is the most action packed and jaw dropping chapter in the whole series because of it’s battle scenes involving major friends and foes, both old and new. While its easy to get caught up in the battle, I think the real question is why this battle took place when and where it did. There is something very important going on here.

Before we begin, we need to understand that Linden has undergone a major transformation in a very short time; she has called and spoken to Esmer, who has introduced a host of supposed allies from the Land's past in the form or the Waynhim and ur-viles, whom he says wish to aid her; she has also travelled back in time 10,000 years, met the Theomach, Berek and Damelon, and defeated Roger and the Croyel who controlled her son under Melenkurion Skyweir. She has gained and lost a friend in the Mahdoubt; she has survived a meeting with a Forrestal who perfected the ‘new’ Staff of Law, which had been darkened in the battle, perhaps by the Earthblood itself. She has also met a new, powerful foe, the Harrow, who defeated the Demondim who were besieging Revelstone, but sought to compel Linden to give him the ring and the staff. The Mahdoubt extracted a promise from him to forbear his ill intentions, at the cost of her life.

The events under Melekurion Skyweir have hardened Linden’s heart, and her resolve; she is now more dangerous than ever – she no longer feels she deserves to be called a healer, and is capable of more direct and brutal action, as evidenced by her attack on the Harrow after she found out the Mahdoubt would die as a result of her aid. If you recall, she leveled the full force of the Staff of Law directly into his face because he had effectively killed her new friend.

Linden’s new focus is to find and save Jeremiah, no matter the cost. She is also now very powerful with the improved staff and the ring, and knowledge of the Seven words of power. Liand also has the Orcrest to aid her as well. the Masters at Revelstone deemed she was a threat to the Land, and weren’t going to let her go free, until the acquiesced because of Stave’s Mastery of the humbled and answering of the Ranyhyn.

Linden doesn’t know any place to start her search except Andelain. She wants to follow in Covenant’s past footsteps and consult the Dead. Everyone thinks this is a bad idea. Roger had told her that is where kasstenessan and the skurj were encamped, though she had reason to doubt it.

edit: She is also going after the Krill, because she thinks it can help her use the Ring.

The chapter starts when the company leaves, making 15 leagues a day, until they arrive near First Woodhelvin, so named because it is where Sunder and Holian began their work. On the way, Stave recounts to the party the history of the area, and how they restored Andelain, and created Salva Gildenborne, a large and unruly forest created by Holian and Sunder , inspired by the Gilden trees in Andelain.

Linden fears that they will draw Kastenessen to the party if Anele touches bare earth, so the humbled fashion a slate pallete to protect and insulate him during the journey through the rich lowlands.

Linden smells a fall as the party nears First woodhelvin, and she finds that it has indeed destroyed it completely. And it wasn’t a normal ceasure, if any ceasure could be referred to as normal:

‘God the fall was big—“

Now Linden spotted what appeared to be a storm around the ceasure’s seething column. The sky was free of clouds, uncluttered from horizon to horizon. Nevertheless, lightning flared in the distance, crackling around the ceasure like a nimbus. The air thickened as if it were crowded with thunderheads, full of theurgy rather than moisture and wind.

She stifled a gasp of chagrin. The Fall was not the only peril.

Linden finds that the ceasure is being driven by some intelligent force, and it has destroyed First Woodhelvin. As Linden prepares to help the stricken villagers, she finds that the Fall has doubled back and is coming towards her. Linden decides she must quench the Fall with her staff. As she prepares, the storm driving it is stronger, more determined.

Now she could discern the storm itself distinctly, although it had no clouds to account for the lurid punch of its thunder or the bright flare and sizzle of its lightning… it resembled a squall at sea.

With all the maritime references, Linden soon figures out its Esmer driving the Fall, and mistakenly thinks this is the betrayal that accompanies the help he gave her earlier. However, she soon learns the truth:

An instant later she saw an explanation. Ahead of the ceasure, a rider fled desperately. He flogged his horse straight at her. The Fall and the storm seemed to be chasing him.

She recognized him before Stave stated flatly, “It is the Harrow. “

Basically, he is coming to her because while he is her foe, he has told her earlier that he has a great service he can perform for her, and he is the only one who can grant it. He claims it is crucial to her. Linden didn’t find out what that was because she denied him to be her companion. He also knows she can quench the Fall and save him.

She does this, even though Esmer asks her not to.

"WildWielder, Do Not!”

Uttering the Seven Words and leveling her staff, she begins quenching the Fall.

At that moment, things get much more complex: Anele dives from the safelty of the slate palette he is on, and is immediately possessed by kastenessen. The ground is engulfed with Magma, and Linden is trapped between it and the Fall. The Fall also seems to draw power from the magma. Liand to the rescue:

Then she felt the sudden brilliance of orcrest behind her back. …

Abruptly Kastenessen’s lava imploded, and sucked back into itself.

Liand, with a flash of insight, used the orcrest to gain Anele’s sanity and dispel Kastenessen—he is surprised at this ability.

Meanwhile. Linden quenches the Fall. Esmer and the Harrow face off.

The host of Urviles and Waynhim appear, forming wedges, one pointed at the harrow, the other, at Esmer.

Now, here let’s take a moment. We know that Esmer has said the Ur-Viles and Waynhim did not trust him, and were there to protect and aid Linden. They also fear the Harrow, because he can unmake (unbind) them. Here they do prove again that they are there to serve the Chosen.

But lets take a closer look at motivation. Why is Esmer trying so hard to kill The Harrow? He has levelled an entire woodhelvin to get at him. We find out soon when a test of truth is proposed by Liand, using the orcrest.

“No!” Esmer shouted in a voice that resounded as though it echoes back to him from tall cliffs. “Uncaring Insequent, your purpose is an abomination!” Energy accumulated around him, imminent and potent. If he released it, it would hit like a cyclone. “You will not speak.”

The two bandy threats, and Linden is still considering the Test of Truth, when things get even more interesting:

With an air of insouciance, the Insequent informed the empty air,”This is a pretty chicane. You are indeed reduced without the aid and knowledge of the croyel. I concede your glamor is potent, extending as it does to conceal so many. But such ploys do not become you. If you claim the stature to stand among this company, more valor will be required of you.”

“Talk’s cheap, asshole.” Retorted Roger.

Roger shows up, with two hundred armored Cavewights, no less. And we learn something:

Like Esmer, Roger meant to block the Harrow’s intentions. If Covenant’s son -- and therefore Kastenssen – had wished only to prevent her from reaching Andelain, He would not have come when other powers might defend her.

Let’s consider: Esmer has said The Harrow’s purpose was an abomination. Roger, Kastenessen, and therefore Foul himself all want to stop him as well. Badly. We’ll come to this a little later.

Battle ensues. Let’s look at who is fighting who:

Linden and the company, including the Ranyhyn throw down on the Cavewights.

The urviles form three wedges, and begin their own campaign:

Behind her, the Ur-Viles and Waynhim had rearranged themselves into three wedges. One hurled a lurid splash of vitriol at the harrow. Another struck Esmer with concussions like the spasms of an earthquake. And from the third, a volley of blackness roared over Linden’s head to fall, howling, toward Roger.

Esmer ignores the attack on him, and instead causes his own earthquakes, which form powerful stone and earth geysers, and also attacks the Harrow.

Linden deals fire-death among the cavewights, a testament to her changed attitude. Linden-as-healer could never have done this, and this is more support for just how much recent events have changed her heart.

Roger also directs his attack directly onto the Harrow, aided by katenessen’s flaming hand.

Esmer and the Harrow are both taking a beating.

Linden’s company of Haruchai, Ramen and Ranyhyn are also taking serious damage from the cavewights. They are closing in on Linden, and she is torching them as fast as she can.

Then things get even more interesting: Kresh, driven by Moksha Jehannum Raver (the same one who had possessed her in The Second Chrons) descend on the villagers. The fleeing people are caught between the pack, and the battle.

So, what does Linden do? She calls Nom. Of course. She expects there to be a delay in their coming, based on the delay of Nom when TC called him to beat down the front gate of the Clave. However, they show up instantly. Interesting. Just happen to be in the neighborhood? more on that next week.

As she turns to confront the kresh, the Harrow, who is taking a serious butt-whooping from all sides, yells to her:

“I am able to convey you to your son!”

Yikes! Is this the purpose which is an abomination to Esmer? It certainly is something Foul Roger and Kastenessen want desperately to prevent.

Linden turns on the Kresh, perceiving that MJ Raver is driving them. She burns through them with the staff, and tries to find the raver, hoping to destroy him as Nom destroyed Samhadi. She fears Roger will send a blast of plasma at her back and burn her alive, however he suddenly has a dozen Sandgorgons on his flank. The demondim also prevent attacks on her flanks even as Esmer redoubles his geyser-spawning earthquake attacks. The sandgorgons begin stamping the daylights out of the cavewights and Roger turns his flame hand onto them, to little effect.

Liand jumps in and helps Linden against the kresh with his orcrest.

Esmer, who had been making some headway against the Demondim, finally quells his spouts and disappears.

Roger now bears the full brunt of assaults from all sides, and the Sandgorgons were unstoppable. He and his army are overwhelmed;

And she sensed the precise moment when Roger's rage and frustration turned to terror.

sweet.

Roger disappears, leveling a final blast of magma at the sandgorgons to cover his retreat.

Moksha Jehannum eludes Linden, and also disappears, as do the demondim spawn.

There is no further mention of The Harrow here, leaving me to wonder.


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What is important here? This whole chapter is one big conflagration that begins with the appearance of the Fall and ends with the fleeing of Roger and the raver. We know that Esmer, Roger, Kastenessen and Foul all want to defy the Harrow’s purpose, which was named as an Abomination by Esmer. The battle was primarily fought to stop the Harrow. I think this is a very important point, and must be analyzed.

Abomination: something causing extreme disgust or hatred. often associated with something extremely against root religious or social beliefs.

The Harrow had told Linden he could transport her to Jeremiah. As we have said, Linden has resolved to rescue him at any cost, and is going into Andelain to speak to the dead. There is more to Harrow's purpose that we are being told, but it’s a clue.

Why would transporting Linden to Jeremiah in and of itself be an abomination? Or is the abomination Esmer speaks of something the Harrow will ask for in return for this service? Or is it a by product of taking Linden to Jeremiah?

I think we have to ask: what would Esmer consider an abomination to find further clues.

If you remember, he is the son of Cail, and merewives. Merewives are descendants of the Elohim, a by-product of the mating of Katenessen with a mortal woman. Perhaps it is the Elohim part of Esmer that finds The Harrow's purpose an abomination.

We also have to Consider Jeremiah. He has the ability to build structures which can trap the Elohim. If you remember, Jeremiah was asked by the Vizard to build a trap for all of the Elohim. I think this is possibly a clue.

So, what exactly is the Harrow's real purpose? Does it involve getting Jeremiah to trap and destroy the Elohim? Or perhaps, trap them, and put them to some other purpose...? I think this is possible. The elohim do often elect to transform themsleves to meet the needs of the Land, as Kastenessen had done, as well as Findail. Perhaps The Harrow, inspired by or in league with the Vizard, seeks to trap them and bend them all to some purpose.

But what purpose? All Insequent have their own specialty, a lot like the unfettered. We know the Harrow's speciality is studying the Urviles and Waynhim. He can speak their language. He can unmake them.

"Lady," he replied. "I repeat I have made a considerable study of such beings. I have pored over the Demondim, as you know, but also over both their Makers and their makings. "

Interesting: He studies those beings that are unnatural, made beings, and knows how they are made, who made them, and what they are capable of making. So he knows the Viles, and he also knows Vain, a product of the Ur-Viles.

There simply has to be a connection between The Harrow's ability to enable Linden to get to Jeremiah and Esmer's calling his purpose an Abomination.

I think there also has to be a definite connection in the Harrow's study of the Demondim and their products and this abominable purpose of his.

I will leave you to ponder these questions, and hope to have some good discussion around that point.

Thanks. I hope this was enjoyable for you.

Excellent, Iquestor! It's good to have you around again!

Thanks man. Good to be back. Hope to be more involved now.

iQ, Thanks for a great dissect..When one starts perceiving this chapter,,it really is a mind blower,, as SRD put it the GI..everything but the kitchen sink. I think he threw in the kitchen sink as well, in this chapter. Consider, the title of the chapter is Sons..The author first words in this chapter are,,In sunrise..hes being puny here? And by the way,, he ends this chapter.".Her flames guttered and faded in the dust of battle; the dust and the tarnished sunlight. She had already gone too far beyond herself. She did not know how to go farther." Seems to me, there's alot of answer to the many questions.

On re-reading this chapter,,maybe its just me but,,i sensed a certain humor going on here. The cave wrights and their ill fitting armor struck me as almost keystone cops like,,especially when they start taking each other out when trying to fend off their attackers...But before even that..the Harrow fleeing from Esmer..The Schitts Harrow is a coward. ( btw),,i am not ready to say the caesure was spawned by Esmer,,and he was responsible for taking out Woodhelvin. I will go with Esmer taking control of it once he saw an opportunity to kick the Harrows Dandy butt tho.) And even before that, that the Woodhelvin got busted up AGAIN...At first read i was p.o'd that SRD did the Woodhelvin in AGAIN! But on this re-read...i am not sorry to conclude that they are SRD's fall guys.They are like the Innocent Stan Laural and Oliver Hardy act;"Another fine mess you got us in Steve!"

So everything is going wrong here. Everybody is fighting at least two other forces..Lots of metaphor here with humor. But finally the Blind Rage that is the Sandgorgons, is summoned. Six (why six) of them have their way in completeness that only utter Blind Rage can. Fascinating that the author points out, that only those who stayed close to Linden, remained unharmed.

What I am saying here, oh before I forget, one could say even the various Vile spawn,,are kinda like Sons as well, but anyway,,They are all fighting each other and Linden leaves them all to their battles of their own making and rides to save the Innocent from the Raver and his possessed Kresh. She torches them. So what was all this about? I think the last line of the chapter says it all ( again): " She had already gone too far beyond herself. She did not know how to go farther."

Consider the last chapter was like,, going forward,,,with Stave making that great line, " so that my people may exceed them selves, if they so wish to make the attempt.."...Now Linden has gone too far.Linden reminds me of a classic Rockey and Bullwinkle filler, usually put on rite before a commercial; Bullwinkle announces that he will commence to pull a a rabbit out of his hat. He reaches in and pulls out a snarling rhinoceros. Bullwinkles line is, "Oops, I don't know my own strength!!..Okay, the humor of this chapter is the Woodhelvin.Their Innocence Linden would not allow to be snuffed out by a Raver. But the rest,,fack'em, let 'em be what they are and go at it.

What I did get and its a bit funny..is a sense of Dark Humor by the author in presenting this chapter. Linden goes forward, and every body and the kitchen sink vies for her attention.The reader is drawn in to a major arse whooping,,and Linden bugs out. Linden decides to save the Innocent. She basically let the rest,, deal with their own makings. An important New element was also introduced in this chapter. Salva Gildenbourne, a Son(?) of the One forest?..A place of No Lore; its with out Law. I like IT!..and before she gets there, Linden has to rid herself of all the distractions, encumbrances, victims and enactors of Despite
.
She does take note and has the slitest feel for the Surreal Esmer. This is good. Like I've said elsewhere, old habits hurt to let go of,,Now I will add,,new perspectives , take awhile for one to realize their strength.

Some fun alliteration in this chapter..check out the a's i's and e's, " and the inestimable aid of her friends, she might be able to surprise the Despiser's allies. "..how about these n's and o's,," Chosen, your count presupposes that we will encounter neither delay nor opposition."...Interesting it is that the author also uses a distinctly southwest word, " arroyo" in this chapter.hhhmm a little Alburkerkey sneaking in there. Open this chapter to any page and the author's word craft is on display. Perhaps that is the kitchen sink.

In ending this ramble,,Put it all together and I get a great feel from this chapter. Linden did right. Salva Gildenbourne awaits her.

..oh..on the Harrows abomination...its that the Harrow wants to " Trade" for Jerry's location. Yes, that is the deal with Insequents,, quid pro Quo..but as Esmer is saying..some things aren't traded for..they are just given.

Sons. I really enjoyed reading this chapter the second time around, much more than the first time. I didn't let the "kitchen sink" aspect of it get to me so much this time, and I was able to enjoy it more.

It's good to see iQuestor around. Hey, you lucky dog, you got one of the best chapters! And you did an admirable job of taking us through.

iQuestor wrote:The chapter is so named because there are many sons that come into play: Esmer, son of Cail and merewives; Roger, son of Thomas Covenant; the Sandgorgons, arguably sons of Nom; And don't forget, Anele, son of Holian and Sunder. Have I missed any relevant examples?

This chapter comes hard on the revelation that Stave has sons among the masters. Coincidence? Perhaps this is where we get the idea that the Humbled are Stave's sons, as they are the only Masters of any note in this chapter?

Finally, check out the dedication of Fatal Revenant. to Ross Donaldson: my son, in whom I am well pleased. In a way, I think that Sons are a main theme of the entire Final Chronicles. If so, then this chapter has to be significant.

iQuestor wrote:The events under Melekurion Skyweir have hardened Linden’s heart, and her resolve; she is now more dangerous than ever – she no longer feels she deserves to be called a healer, and is capable of more direct and brutal action

I am on the same page here. Linden has been transformed.

At the beginning of this chapter, Linden thinks, "she had finally begun to take charge of her own fate". Somehow, her transformation is enabling her direct action in the Land.

Its sad to think of it, but this may be related to the fact that she has died in the real world. Being dead in RL, she will inevitably "transcend" in the Land. And I wonder if this spiritual annealing she is undergoing is the first step in the process. She is becoming something greater than she ever was.

Does this chapter bear out that idea?

iQuestor wrote:Linden doesn’t know any place to start her search except Andelain. She wants to follow in Covenant’s past footsteps and consult the Dead. Everyone thinks this is a bad idea. Roger had told her that is where kasstenessan and the skurj were encamped, though she had reason to doubt it.

edit: She is also going after the Krill, because she thinks it can help her use the Ring.

Well, as I said in the last chapter, I think that her intentions for Andelain are a little farther along than that. I think she already has an idea of what she will do with the krill. Her questions to Stave in the Hall of Gifts bear this out, as well as the warnings of Anele's parents.

Spoiler

She is planning on doing what she eventually does do.

I thought this was ha ha funny.

Stave shrugged, studying her. "The future is uncertain, Chosen. Soon we may be driven far from our direct road. It would be improvident to neglect an opportunity to replenish our viands."

"All right," she muttered unhappily. "But let's be as quick as we can. Jeremiah needs me."

"Also you do not forgive," Stave remarked.

No one delivers a non sequitur like a Haruchai!

"bright with meretricious grace"

meretricious: gaudy, tawdrily, falsely attractive, as a prostitute. (Who thought it meant something more like "meritorious"?) So, the Harrow's attire makes him seem tawdry.

iQuestor wrote:She does this, even though Esmer asks her not to.

Sorry Bob, but I gotta point out I think you got the order of events wrong here. And they are a queer order of events, to boot.

- Liand yells "Anele!"
- Anele leaps from his horse and is possessed by Kastenessen.
- Linden starts pounding the ceasure with her fire.
- Liand weilds the orcrest.
- Esmer yells, "Wildweilder, do not!"
- Kastenessen departs, Anele faints.
- "Linden felt freedom and energy surge through her."
- Linden destroys the ceasure with one blow.

Surely Esmer wants the ceasure to get the Harrow. But he does not yell "Do not!" when she begins attacking it. He doesn't plead until Liand weilds the orcrest. That's darn peculiar.

And what is it with Kastenessen's presence affecting Linden? As soon as he is gone, Linden feels more powerful.

Then she felt the sudden brilliance of orcrest behind her.

Through Liand's glaring light, the storm thundered in a voice like a convulsion of despair. "Wildwielder, do not!"

Abruptly Kastenessen's lava imploded, sucked back into itself.

As if fetters had been struck from her limbs, Linden felt freedom and energy surge through her. Almost calmly, she thought, No, Esmer. Not until I know what's at stake. Not until one of you bastards tells me the truth.

With Law and Earthpower and repudiation, she lit a deflagration in the Fall's heart and watched while the tumult of sundered instants swallowed itself whole.

In fact, Linden's not able to destroy the ceasure while Kastenessen's present. She threw her fire at the Fall, to no avail.

Here's one thing I can piece together. Liand uses the orcrest, Kastenessen departs, and Anele faints. What happened is clear: Anele became sane. And when he became sane, the "flaw" that allowed him to be possessed was eliminated. And so Kastenessen had to leave him. The clue? Anele passed out immediately after. This happened immediately after he used the orcrest to be sane in Linden's room, and at that time, Liand spoke of that sleep as if he had encountered it at least one other time prior. "We have spoken of this. He will slumber briefly. When he wakes, he will be as he was."

Esmer shouted "do not!" as if he feared Liand's actions. But he shouted to Linden, not Liand. Wildweilder.

Now, if Esmer feared Liand weilding the orcrest, it stands to reason he knew that Kastenessen would be driven out, and he knew that Kastenessen was somehow hampering Linden. He didn't worry about Linden destroying the Fall until he saw that Kastenessen would be driven out by Anele. Because she would not have been able to destroy it in Kastenessen's presence. Knowing that Kastenessen would be pushed out, Esmer resorts to begging Linden to not destroy the Fall.

That's the only thing that explains the queer timing we see in these events.

But where does Kastenessen's effect on Linden come from? Have we seen it before?

The Harrow and Esmer reveal several things.

The Harrow says to Esmer, "Doubtless I might be slain, were I unable to step aside. Yet here there is no caesure to constrain me. Undisturbed by such forces, I may pass where and how I will.".

How does a ceasure "constrain" the Harrow? And if it does, might that explain why Esmer didn't want Linden to destroy it?

Then he says, "Also you are no true Elohim. Your mortal blood cannot withstand her Staff."

So we know that Linden can destroy Esmer if she wishes to.

Finally, there is this:

"Lady," he replied. "I repeat that I have made a considerable study of such beings. I have pored over the Demondim, as you know, but also over both their makers and their makings."

He doesn't just know about Demondim and ur-viles and Waynhim. He knows about the Viles, too. Enough to dismantle them with a thought, apparently.

When he later says, "I am able to convey you to your son!", I think I see a clue emerging. Convey. Not "find". But "bring you to". If Jeremiah is in the Lost Deep, then it may be that the Harrow's knowledge of the Viles who created it are necessary. Perhaps he knows enough to guide Linden through the Lost Deeps where it would otherwise be impossible to pass.

Okay. As much as I dislike Roger, he makes a damn awesome entrance here. And he delivers some cool lines.

“Talk’s cheap, asshole,” retorted Roger.

Twenty or thirty paces in the direction of the Harrow's gaze, Covenant's son appeared as if he had stepped through an imperceptible portal.

"Run while you can," he continued. As he unveiled himself to her senses, Linden felt the seething rage of his right hand, Kastenessen's hand; magma and fury free of dross, distilled down to their essential savagery. "If you don't, I'm going to fry your bones. Then I think we'll all eat that silly horse of yours."

"Indeed?" The Harrow's tone was a snarl of mockery. The lady will not permit it. And I will aid her against you, as will these many Demondim-spawn."

"I know," Roger spat. "That's why I didn't come alone."

With a gesture that left a reeking wail across Linden's sight, he unwrapped his glamour from an army of Cavewights.

Note the use of vulgarity here. After being immersed in the politeness of the Land for one and a half-books, it comes across as quite shocking. If anyone is still wondering if Donaldson is using cuss-words intentionally ... well, there you go.

iQuestor, you touched upon something here.

iQuestor wrote:Battle ensues. Let’s look at who is fighting who:

I cannot help but wonder ... is the reason for this kitchen sink battle the fact that we can see who chooses to oppose whom? Not only do we get to see who opposes whom, but we get to see whom they consider the most important to oppose given a choice.

+ the ur-viles and Waynhim oppose Esmer, the Harrow, and Roger ... so equally, that they divide their forces rather than choose whom to attack first.

+ Esmer seems to have it in for the Harrow, evidence the Fall, but he places more importance on saving the ur-viles and Waynhim when he has to choose.

+ Roger seems to have a history with the Harrow, and attacks him before anyone else.

+ The Raver shows up with the dawgs; obviously this is an attack on Linden, but the timing can only betray that Lord Foul was in on Esmer's attack on the Harrow with the Fall. As was Kastenessen. Esmer seems to have known Kastenessen would back him up, prevent Linden from stopping the ceasure somehow. The whole thing was a set piece.

+ The Sandgorgons seem to be either with Linden, or against Roger. They attacked the Cavewights without any direction from Linden!!!

+ Esmer and Roger both have it in for the Harrow. We have to presume Kastenessen and Lord Foul have it in for him as well. So the Harrow can't be all bad, can he? Maybe he is, as I suggested last chapter, someone trying to save the world, he just happens to think stopping Linden is the way to save it. If Lord Foul were trying to manipulate Linden into doing something Earth-shattering, the Harrow's interference would certainly be something he'd want to prevent.

Again, a ha ha funny moment as Roger flees.

Consumed by the struggle to keep going-to seek moksha Jehannum with percipience and fire-she did not see Roger call the few remaining Cavewights to him, leap onto one of their backs, and send them racing eastward away from the Sandgorgons.

Yes, Roger was scared so ... well, s***less, he wanted a piggy-back ride from a cavewight to get away!!!

lurch said what I wanted to say.

lurch wrote:So what was all this about? I think the last line of the chapter says it all ( again): " She had already gone too far beyond herself. She did not know how to go farther."

We have a pyrrhic victory here. Linden's spiritual annealing has given her a victory, but at the cost of her very self.

Sadness.

WF said:

iQuestor wrote:

She does this, even though Esmer asks her not to.

Sorry Bob, but I gotta point out I think you got the order of events wrong here. And they are a queer order of events, to boot.

- Liand yells "Anele!"
- Anele leaps from his horse and is possessed by Kastenessen.
- Linden starts pounding the ceasure with her fire.
- Liand weilds the orcrest.
- Esmer yells, "Wildweilder, do not!"
- Kastenessen departs, Anele faints.
- "Linden felt freedom and energy surge through her."
- Linden destroys the ceasure with one blow.

WF you are, of course, correct. It is a very tight sequence -- and many things happen here. When I was preparing my dissection, I had to re-read it several times to try and figure out what was going on. I deduced the same events as you have -- the text says that Kastenessens fire was actually adding power to the ceasure:

I wrote in my dissection:

At that moment, things get much more complex: Anele dives from the safelty of the slate palette he is on, and is immediately possessed by kastenessen. The ground is engulfed with Magma, and Linden is trapped between it and the Fall. The Fall also seems to draw power from the magma. Liand to the rescue:

Quote:
Then she felt the sudden brilliance of orcrest behind her back. …


Quote:
Abruptly Kastenessen’s lava imploded, and sucked back into itself.


Liand, with a flash of insight, used the orcrest to gain Anele’s sanity and dispel Kastenessen—he is surprised at this ability.

Its very telling this course of events. I think when I summarized these events, i went back and edited and got them out of order, thanks for pointing it out.

WF, I think you also pointed out that Esmer knew Kastenessen would prevent Linden destroying the ceasure, and when Liand acted to dispel him, he knew that he couldnt defeat the harrow if Linden quenched the Fall. That is pretty astute, and the kind of thing we count on you for. thanks.


Lastly, WF, could you perhaps comment on my last points about the Harrow's speciality and his ultimate purpose that Esmer calls an abomination?


i said:

But what purpose? All Insequent have their own specialty, a lot like the unfettered. We know the Harrow's speciality is studying the Urviles and Waynhim. He can speak their language. He can unmake them.

Quote:
"Lady," he replied. "I repeat I have made a considerable study of such beings. I have pored over the Demondim, as you know, but also over both their Makers and their makings. "

Interesting: He studies those beings that are unnatural, made beings, and knows how they are made, who made them, and what they are capable of making. So he knows the Viles, and he also knows Vain, a product of the Ur-Viles.

There simply has to be a connection between The Harrow's ability to enable Linden to get to Jeremiah and Esmer's calling his purpose an Abomination.

I think there also has to be a definite connection in the Harrow's study of the Demondim and their products and this abominable purpose of his.

way...try to consider , that they are all fighting each other rather who is fighting who(m?)..I would have thought,,that they would have all ganged up on Roger,,but they didn't. So..it was more of battle of self preservation of each group or entity,,rather than an out right battle of Good Versus Evil. In the author's presentation,, it only becomes a Good Vs Evil battle when he has the Raver and his pound dogs attacking the Innocent. I found it an interesting comparison here,, the blind rage of the SandGorgs and the Ravers attack on the Innocent. That which is being .".attacked.." determines the " value" of the attacker. The subjectivity of this Kitchen Sink Battle is on display..As you point out,, the ur-vile and Waynhim ( corrupted Vile spawn, sons) have it out for Esmer, Harrow And Roger...To me..the only thing these three have in common..is that in a way, all 3 are responsible for this " battle."..Again,,the idea of self preservation comes to mind. From there,,the Sandgorgons come across as the Big F bomb...the Cartman..F**K You I;m taking my ball and I'm Going Home!..Thats the " humor" I sensed in this chapter; but the humor of the situation is ended,,when Humor itself is attacked. Perhaps there is the difference between the rage of a F**K YOU!! and the rage of pure Hate..no humor.

The Entities that have claimed to be of Service to Linden are fighting amongst themselves. Thats nuts! Meanwhile Roger and his 200 Cavewrights are having their way. Again..not so much what,,but How, of this going forward by Linden strikes me as the point.
Therefore it is difficult for me to see a grand set up here. How is it that Harrow was out in the plains wasn't explained by the author..its just that he was and Esmer caught a Caesure so he could bust the Dandy's doings. On and on , one action leads to another with a quick out of control escalation to ..everybody for themselves.Yet the Surreal Esmer takes everything thrown at him without a care. If there is a dark humor view of " Insanity"...this chapter is it.

This Harrow is interesting, I'm trying to get a handle on the Insequent Quid Pro Quo attributes,,with this ,,Dandy's studying and Mastering of the vile spawn. As already said,,being that close to something makes you part of it..The visual metaphor of him swallowing the demondim is appropo. So, the Harrow is a corruption, an abomination as Esmer says. So far the only thing that appears hes corrupted is the Quid Pro Quo attribute itself. Again, there seems a point of Insanity being subtly made here.

lurch wrote:way...try to consider , that they are all fighting each other rather who is fighting who(m?)..I would have thought,,that they would have all ganged up on Roger,,but they didn't. So..it was more of battle of self preservation of each group or entity,,rather than an out right battle of Good Versus Evil.

I can't see it that way, lurch. Esmer didn't have to attack the Harrow. The Demondimspawn didn't have to arrive just then to join in. Roger didn't have to arrive just then with the Cavewights. The Raver didn't have to arrive just then with the kresh. The Sandgorgons didn't have to help Linden out. Too many people/things took an opportunity to be in that battle when they didn't need to be, so I can't see it as a matter of self-preservation. Only the Harrow, Linden, and her companions were drawn into a battle they didn't foresee, and fought for self-preservation.

I think that battle was a set piece. Roger and Kastenessen and Esmer and the Raver and the kresh were right there, waiting for it to happen. That takes planning. And the location, a woodhelven along Linden's path, was carefully chosen as well.

lurch wrote:How is it that Harrow was out in the plains wasn't explained by the author..its just that he was and Esmer caught a Caesure so he could bust the Dandy's doings.

True. But some of this is explained by the Harrow's comment that the Fall constrains him. Otherwise he coulda went poof and fled the scene. And part of it is explained in that he's hanging close by to Linden in order to play his you-need-me card. I think Esmer caught the guy.

iQuestor wrote:the text says that Kastenessens fire was actually adding power to the ceasure:

I'll have to look for that. I didn't see it.

iQuestor wrote:I think when I summarized these events, i went back and edited and got them out of order, thanks for pointing it out.

I only brought it up because I wanted to dive into the details of that sequence of events.

iQuestor wrote:Lastly, WF, could you perhaps comment on my last points about the Harrow's speciality and his ultimate purpose that Esmer calls an abomination?

I don't really have anything here. The Harrow's after the ring and the Staff -- is that an abomination? Or maybe messing with Linden's fate is an abomination? Or maybe getting Linden to Jeremiah is an abomination? There are too many things, and too many things we don't know yet.

And Donaldson uses the word "abomination" all over the place. "Redeem my people, their plight is an abomination." etc. I don't think we have a clue from the word itself.

wayfriend wrote:

iQuestor wrote:the text says that Kastenessens fire was actually adding power to the ceasure:

I'll have to look for that. I didn't see it.

Here's the text:

Time seemed to have no meaning. For an instant or an eternity, she threw her fire at the Fall; and the Harrow raced toward her in a fever of dread; and dire lava gathered at her back. Lightning coruscated near Hyn's hooves. The caesure appeared to swell as though it feasted on flame.

I thing the flame the ceasure appeared to feast on was Linden's. She was having no affect on the ceasure with her first blasts. Kastenessen's lava merely was gathering at this point, and it gets snuffed out in the very next moment.

Still, though, Kastenessen's presence was hindering Linden in some way. Her Staff blasts were not working when he was present, and then they were utterly sufficient as soon as he was gone.

wayfriend wrote:

wayfriend wrote:

iQuestor wrote:the text says that Kastenessens fire was actually adding power to the ceasure:

I'll have to look for that. I didn't see it.

Here's the text:

Time seemed to have no meaning. For an instant or an eternity, she threw her fire at the Fall; and the Harrow raced toward her in a fever of dread; and dire lava gathered at her back. Lightning coruscated near Hyn's hooves. The caesure appeared to swell as though it feasted on flame.

I thing the flame the ceasure appeared to feast on was Linden's. She was having no affect on the ceasure with her first blasts. Kastenessen's lava merely was gathering at this point, and it gets snuffed out in the very next moment.

Still, though, Kastenessen's presence was hindering Linden in some way. Her Staff blasts were not working when he was present, and then they were utterly sufficient as soon as he was gone.

WF -- I think you are correct -- re-reading it, it was Linden's flames, and not Kastenessen's magma or presence that fed the ceasure. good point.

As far as Kastenessen affecting Linden's power -- its plausible, since Esmer cuts her off from the ring. The Elohim can do a lot. WHile I don't see a direct line of text, its also certainly more than a coincidence of K's banishement from Anele and her success against the fall after his departure.

The Harrow can be constrained by a Fall, which is exactly why it was the weapon Esmer used.

Yoyu are also correct in a point I should have spent more time on: Timing -- All of the forces in the most logical place for a battle -- They knew Linden would be preoccupied with the destruction of the village and keeping the villagers safe from Kresh, and so her destruction would be more easily acheived.

you know, it HAD to piss off LF that Linden was victorious, albeit a pyrrhic one. WHo was it that said "Win a few more battles like this one and we'll have lost the war"? That was after Bunker Hill, I beleive.

anyway, WF Great Points! And as always, Lurch's insights are also, well, insightful!

iQuestor wrote:Linden’s new focus is to find and save Jeremiah, no matter the cost.

BTW, as I ever do, I need to question this statement.

Linden didn't need to save the people of the Woodhelven from the kresh. Or from the Fall for that matter. Yet she did. And she didn't need to. Even though it certainly put her quest for Jeremiah at risk.

I think it's fair to say that Linden will find and save Jeremiah regardless of the cost to herself. No matter how she is transformed, no matter how far she moves away from the healer that she was, she'll keep striving.

But she certainly has the Land's needs in mind, and hasn't sacrificed them yet in the quest to free Jeremiah.

Interesting thing , this " Timing" is. Its after Linden disregards Esmer's demand to do not, that Linden basically says , no, not until one of you guys tells me the Truth.. From that point on. events quickly unfold to an insane situation. Linden drops the F Bomb then rides off to save the Innocent..

As pointed out, the author starts the chapter with Linden feeling abit in control of things for once. By the end of chapter she is totally exhausted in going beyond herself in dealing with a totally out of control situation. She asked for the Truth. I wonder if she realizes that it was delivered to her. The caesure is clearly an indicative of Insanity. The Surreal Esmer takes control of it to beat Harrow down with it,,but Linden intervenes,,and says No, to a plea of you don't know whats going on here,,to which she demands the Truth. Neither the Harrow nor Esmer verbalize any Truth to Linden. Even as he's given the bum's rush the Harrow hurried words.." I can convey you to your son.." is understood as only an opening line to a " deal". And Esmer..the Surreal Conflicted Time Tripper..simply stands mute and takes everything thrown at him without ever telling Linden any Truth. Yet,, the Truth is all around her.All these forces and entities fighting each other is insanity. The only effective control Linden has in this whole chapter is dropping the F bomb " Nom".. and then riding to save the Innocent.

There is a flaw in Linden here. The Haruchai who has already gone beyond himself, even gives her a warning,,about assuming no obstacles would cross her path in her estimation of how long it would take to get to Salva Gildenbourne. The same flaw surfaces in her refusing Esmer's plea and Then..demanding They tell HER the Truth.You Create Your Future. You just don't go naively blind into the future. If you leave the future to others,,if you ask others for Truth..well..you just mite find yourself dropping the F bomb.

Linden made a mistake here. We shall see how well she learned from these " Sons".

..And other thing thats been on my mind about this chapter,,and that is..who really starts this Battle.? The Harrow..imho..and that fits with the Linden feeling uppity about controlling things for once. Okay I've said ,that to me, the Harrow strikes me as egotistical and therefore,,the character can be seen as the ego,,full of himself.

So Linden's all full of herself,,the insane caesure wipes out the innocents village ,,Linden can't do much about what has already been done,the frustration begins.,but Esmer turns the caesure on the egotistical Harrow who runs to Linden for protection,,then he outs Roger, turning the whole thing into a huge distraction and waste cause Linden is demanding the Truth..

Roger was hidden by the glamour all along. He could have attacked Linden any time he chose. But he didn't have the choice here,,The Harrow outed him. The Raver led Kresh aren't there at the beginning, so they can been seen as late to the smack down, which gave a tactical advantage to Linden since she had already summoned the SandGorgons..Her Rage was free to be set on the Raver led.

All of this on a " internal landscape" figurative perspective..well..its like the events in the hollow..an escalation of circumstances that tops out at ..utter frustration..stepping into the insanity of utter blind rage...loosing control.
And who is there at the last moment to take advantage of this loss of control? Why its .." I can convey you to your son."

This is the abomination that is the Harrow,,that Esmer tried to stop, that even Stave remotely warned against. Rather than seeing Roger and Raver involved as instigators,,they too come off as victims of this burst of frustrated ego. But the Truth is..what has it got Linden? All around her is utter waste.