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Gilden-Fire
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:39 pm
by lorin
I was reading Gilden-Fire and it revealed a few small things of interest.
The bloodguard DID eat - aliantha.
The constant repetition of the bloodguard's vow to themselves sustained and steadied them, much as the Oath of Peace sustained people of the Land.
Could someone elaborate on this passage for me?
Korik understood this assertion and accepted it. But he did not like it. It carried echoes of other losses and griefs - deprivations and hollow places which the Haruchai had not taken into account during their sole night of extravagance.
Is this discussing the Ritual of Desecration?
all in all I think I am glad it was a separate story. There is a mystique to the bloodguard that makes them so interesting. I think gilden-fire makes the bloodguard more human, more fallible. I liked learning more about them but am glad I learned it was after I completed the trilogy.
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:01 pm
by Relayer
I'd have to go back and look at it in context, but the "sole night of extravagance" refers to the night they took the Vow, which was *before* the Ritual.
I think this was just one of those "world-building" moments Donaldson uses to frame his characters...
but in retrospect it now has relevance to the story of the Vizard
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:05 pm
by Menolly
lorin, Fist did an absolutely fabulous dissection of the forward and
Haruchai aspects of
Gilden-Fire here and addresses that passage towards the very end. I'll let you read what he wrote and see what he believes that passage refers to.
birdandbear then followed with an additional dissection of
Gilden-Fire here. Both are absolutely wonderful examples of what we Watchers share with each other. If you haven't read them yet, enjoy.
~*~edit~*~
Ah Relayer, you beat me.
But still, lorin I think if you haven't you should check out both dissections I linked. They truly are wonderful.
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:16 pm
by Savor Dam
My understanding of this passage is that the Haruchai's "sole night of extravagance" is when they swore their Vow after Lord Kevin responded to their battle challenge with an opening of the gates of Revelstone and three days of boundless hospitality.
The passage come just after Korik has observed a conversation between Lords Hyrim and Shetra that has made it clear to him that Shetra is greatly mindful of having left her husband, Lord Verement, behind when she took on the Mission to Seareach. Korik and Cerrin (who wards Shetra) discuss whether her concern for Verement will weaken her, but Cerrin asserts that "she will fight for both" the mission and her husband.
This is the assertion which Korik understands, but mislikes. After posting the Bloodguard to watch over the camp for the night, Korik recites his Vow, but...
He could not forget any detail of the last night he had spent with his wife, whose bones were already ancient in the frozen fastness of her grave. The Vow sustained him, but it was not warm.
This, I believe, is the "other losses and griefs - deprivations and hollow places" that are echoed by Shetra's distress.
(edit - I see that while I was looking up the passage and writing, others have responded with much the same interpretation. Glad to see I'm not too far off base...just not fast enough to outrun our resident tsunami.
)
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:28 pm
by Menolly
Savor Dam wrote:(...just not fast enough to outrun our resident tsunami.
)
...I really am loving the attention... 
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:05 am
by danlo
You know there is an official Gilden-Fire thread in this forum, because we used to get a new thread every 3 months or so...
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:15 am
by Savor Dam
Admins may feel free to relocate this thread as they feel appropriate. We respond to them where we find them.
Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:36 am
by lorin
danlo wrote:You know there is an official Gilden-Fire thread in this forum, because we used to get a new thread every 3 months or so...
my apologies, I missed it.
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 3:04 am
by hearthrall antonicus
Menolly wrote:Savor Dam wrote:(...just not fast enough to outrun our resident tsunami.
)
...I really am loving the attention... [/quote
On behalf of the 7248(oops) 7249..(oops) 7250(oops)7251 (damn..) and counting, members of M E M L A we appreciate the attention that Menolly is getting....
Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 10:39 pm
by danlo
It's more assuming to complain about it and watch how you guys react when I'm too lazy to move it LOL
Re: Gilden-Fire
Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:16 pm
by iQuestor
lorin wrote:I was reading Gilden-Fire and it revealed a few small things of interest.
The bloodguard DID eat - aliantha.
The constant repetition of the bloodguard's vow to themselves sustained and steadied them, much as the Oath of Peace sustained people of the Land.
Could someone elaborate on this passage for me?
Korik understood this assertion and accepted it. But he did not like it. It carried echoes of other losses and griefs - deprivations and hollow places which the Haruchai had not taken into account during their sole night of extravagance.
Is this discussing the Ritual of Desecration?
all in all I think I am glad it was a separate story. There is a mystique to the bloodguard that makes them so interesting. I think gilden-fire makes the bloodguard more human, more fallible. I liked learning more about them but am glad I learned it was after I completed the trilogy.
At the risk of shameless self promotion, a lot of the inspiration for
"It cannot now be set aside, nor passed on" Came from information about the Haurchai and their Vow in
Gilden-Fire. It attempts to fill in the gap of Korik's Mission from the time they left Seareach until they were slain by Bannor. Ive finished 2 of 3 parts so far. If you enjoyed
Gilden-Fire, like the
Haruchai, and can stomach Fan Fic, I'd be pleased if you read it. It's in the Hall of Gifts, follow the link in my signature.
Re: Gilden-Fire
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:50 pm
by Blackhawk
lorin wrote:I was reading Gilden-Fire and it revealed a few small things of interest.
The bloodguard DID eat - aliantha.
The constant repetition of the bloodguard's vow to themselves sustained and steadied them, much as the Oath of Peace sustained people of the Land.
Could someone elaborate on this passage for me?
Korik understood this assertion and accepted it. But he did not like it. It carried echoes of other losses and griefs - deprivations and hollow places which the Haruchai had not taken into account during their sole night of extravagance.
Is this discussing the Ritual of Desecration?
all in all I think I am glad it was a separate story. There is a mystique to the bloodguard that makes them so interesting. I think gilden-fire makes the bloodguard more human, more fallible. I liked learning more about them but am glad I learned it was after I completed the trilogy.
I think it is regarding their Vow, having given up wives and sleep along with children, Im sure the ROD must be part of it, but I think they were speaking of the actual ceremony when the vow took place.
seems the winners of the fight to become bloodguard were the ones who lost.
Re: Gilden-Fire
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:56 pm
by iQuestor
Blackhawk wrote:lorin wrote:I was reading Gilden-Fire and it revealed a few small things of interest.
The bloodguard DID eat - aliantha.
The constant repetition of the bloodguard's vow to themselves sustained and steadied them, much as the Oath of Peace sustained people of the Land.
Could someone elaborate on this passage for me?
Korik understood this assertion and accepted it. But he did not like it. It carried echoes of other losses and griefs - deprivations and hollow places which the Haruchai had not taken into account during their sole night of extravagance.
Is this discussing the Ritual of Desecration?
all in all I think I am glad it was a separate story. There is a mystique to the bloodguard that makes them so interesting. I think gilden-fire makes the bloodguard more human, more fallible. I liked learning more about them but am glad I learned it was after I completed the trilogy.
I think it is regarding their Vow, having given up wives and sleep along with children, Im sure the ROD must be part of it, but I think they were speaking of the actual ceremony when the vow took place.
seems the winners of the fight to become bloodguard were the ones who lost.
agreed. SRD's message was that extremity is not the answer. The Oath of Peace, The Bloodguard Vow, Covenant's Unbeleif -- these were all extremes. And they all failed those who held them so high. what a great author!