Kevin's Watch

What was the designed use for 'Nekrimah'? If TC hadn't used it to get away from the Stonedown, and it had not been used by all the various ur-viles and Waynhim, what was 'Nekrimah' supposed to do?

"Nekrimah, Vain! Change into the Staff of Law, and take Findail with you!"?

I always thought it was a deal-sweetener for Covenant, so he would accept it as a gift from the dead Foamfollower. Without the one-time command, would Covenant have accepted Vain as the creepy, mute, inscrutable, non-interactive sidekick-with-a-hidden-purpose from Foamy? Maybe not...

dw

I thought the Ur-viles had included it as a safety mechanism, an option of last resort to control the uncontrollable.

Earthfriend wrote:I thought the Ur-viles had included it as a safety mechanism, an option of last resort to control the uncontrollable.

But he was just construct. Why would he need to be controlled?

Considering nothing was known about Vain or it's purpose (only hinted at in 2nd chronicles book 2) and the motives of the Ur-Viles are still mysterious who knows what will happen if you ordered it do depending on the order? But I bet it wouldn't do anything that will violate it's existence or purpose!

soft one wrote: But he was just construct. Why would he need to be controlled?

Exactly: he is a construct. He has no morals, no conscious, - perhaps even no consciousness - and only one 'desire' - to fulfill his purpose, potentially regardless of the cost. If ever there was a creation that needed a safety catch, Vain is it.

I think the designed use of 'Nekrimah' was exactly as Covenant used it - and possibly the Ur-viles were aware of exactly when and where it would be used; who can say to what heights (or depths) of knowledge their roynish lore had taken them!