Mapping the end

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

Simple enough: where will the story come to a conclusion?

Hopefully not at the site of the Blood of the Earth (regardless of what is prophesied to happen should a certain entity drink it): we've already had two subfinales under Melenkurion Skyweir. Ditto for Gravin Threndor. Foul's Creche is gone, so unless time gets traveled through in reverse some more...

I'm pinning my hopes on Revelstone. Maybe the message written into it that the Giants of the Search waxed so graciously about will be made clear to us for said reason?

[wayfriend]

I think the fact that the sandgorgons and the skurj are building a cordon around Mt Thunder implies that Foul is trying to keep Covenant and Linden out until the very end. Also, that's where SWMNBN is heading. So I voted Kiril Threndor.

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

Unless it's Foul's misdirection at work again... Which I hope it is.

Something major has to happen at Revelstone. Don't Pahni and Bhapa have to convince the Masters of something? Or maybe it'll be off camera, or maybe this already happened in AATE, and I just don't remember because I've yet to reread it...

Also, Glimmermere is the last place of beauty yet to be Desecrated, yeah? Or one of them, anyway. I doubt Andelain's corruption caused Glimmermere to fail, too, yet otherwise Andelain is considered the ultimate glory of the Land.

SECOND EDIT:

Plus the grass near the lake allowed Anele to channel Covenant. So it's the kind that's most in tune with the Land's ancient savior? Plus it wipes away (for a while) Kevin's Dirt?

UNRELATED EDIT:

I also hope for something more about Coercri, maybe a resolution to Cable Seadreamer's damnation, or whatever it was Honninscrave dreaded and that Covenant allowed.

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

The Ranyhyn also seem to have a strange connection to Glimmermere, if their grass on the Verge of Wandering allowed Covenant to speak through Anele there just like at Glimmermere: except see that near Revelstone, Kastenessen didn't channel himself through Sunder and Hollian's son, yeah? Maybe their [the Ranyhyn] deep faith in the Chosen is related to some obscure connection thereto.

[High Lord Tolkien]

Revelstone's getting destroyed isn't it?
Didn't Roger destroy the Lego model Jeremiah made of it?
I think that was foreshadowing.

[Orlion]

All right, we shall consider each one:
1) Kiril Threndor
-The most obvious place for the final confrontation to take place. It is where SWMNBN is at, and it appears to be where Kassie's at and could be where Foul is at as well. The downside? It has been done before, sure, and we have had a hugely action packed sequence in the area, if not in Kiril Threndor itself.

2) Gallows Howe
- There is some interesting implications for the final confrontation to happen here, but I doubt it. It's too far from the action and is in the 'present' time insignificant.

3) Doriendor Corishev
- Same with the above, but with different interesting implications.

4) The horserite waters
- Have all ready served their purpose in the story.

5) Glimmermere/Rivenrock
- Pretty much the same place. Anything that happens here, I believe will happen off screen or from far away. I think HLT makes a good point that it will be destroyed, possibly in an attempt to prevent the Masters from moving against the skurj and sandgorgans (though what they could do against them except die is still beyond me). Their failure to preserve Revelstone and Pahni's heartfelt but off-screen speech will convince them to take up the cause of throwing away their lives for the sake of beauty.

6) Coercri
-Coercri has been dealt with and resolved in the Second Chronicles. I do not see any reason to return to it.

7) Wherever dreaming goes
- There is little doubt in my mind that this is where the book will end, but not necessarily where the final confrontation will take place.

Personally, I think there is a good chance Andelain will be the site of the final confrontation... between everything. It is pretty much the last place of value left in the world, and that is where all the skruj and sandgorgans are going... with that much power, I do not think it would be hard to distract the Worm from its course towards the font of Earthblood to stop by for a quick snack.

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

Maybe the mountains around Kevin's Watch would be a good symbolic place to host the core of the apocalypse.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

I voted for Gallows Howe.

Foul isn't in Revelstone, he isn't in Kiril Threndor (but I think Kastenessen is...in whatever form or state in which he might currently exist--how do you escape a Durance and not be fundamentally altered?), he can't be in the Creche, he isn't in Andelain (he wouldn't be able to resist corrupting it), I don't think it is possible to get to the Earthblood anymore (unless someone has spent the time necessary to clear a path to it after the earthquake in TIW), he wouldn't leave the Land (not since arriving there), and there aren't any other places of power or significant destiny left besides Doriendor Corishev, which hasn't been relevant in 10,000 years.

I don't know why he would be at the Howe, though, since it doesn't have any special significance to anyone other than the Forestals and now Linden. *shrug*

I am probably incorrect. If so, then my second guess is that Foul is near (or in) the cave of the Earthblood, a power source I don't think he would use directly. He has had millenia to clear a path back to it and he knows that the Worm will be heading there, so what better place to meet it and deal with it or observe his final victory in person? Did croyel Jeremiah already build a construct there that would protect/translate him through the end of the Land? Did he already build a construct that would trap the Worm?

*argh* Now that I think about it I want to change my vote to Cave of the Earthblood, but I already voted so I'll just have to live with my choice.

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

Now what about Salva Gildenbourne? There's a reason the skurj and Sandgorgons attack it. Just because it's pretty? Or is the necessary forbidding of evils that can (maybe) stop the Worm related to attempts to resurrect the One Forest?

This is what I kinda think: the Land is the shadow on the heart of the Elohim. It must confuse them that the outsiders to Time show up in that strange little country, that the Despiser lurks there, the Wraiths can overpower Infelice, etc. The fate of the Land is the fate of the Earth, and yet the Elohim try, far away on their own speck of an island, to prove equal to the test of all things in the Land's stead.

Now "Salva" sounds like it refers to salvation. Maybe it's an expression of deliverance from the Sunbane. But maybe it's a sign of deeper meaning: that finally saving the Earth involves restoring the One Forest. How better would the ur-viles make up for the self-contempt of their ancestors, which Despite was directed in some way against the ancient trees, than by helping to afforest the Land again?

Plus the Worm silenced itself in the presence of a sacred tree ages ago.

And Salva Gildenbourne is where the Land's afforestation was supposed to start, anyway.

[sindatur]

What was the Forestal's Question to Linden when she went to the past in FR?

[dlbpharmd]

I think the fact that the sandgorgons and the skurj are building a cordon around Mt Thunder implies that Foul is trying to keep Covenant and Linden out until the very end. Also, that's where SWMNBN is heading. So I voted Kiril Threndor.

I agree with your reasoning, but not your conclusion. We haven't seen Fire Lions since LFB, and we know from previous references (ROTE) that they're active. So, I would cast a vote for the slope of Mt. Thunder.

[Mighara Sovmadhi]

So, I would cast a vote for the slope of Mt. Thunder.

I tried adding more options to the poll, but found the limit. So I kinda went synecdoche with the options: Kiril Threndor is used to mean Gravin Threndor, Glimmermere means Revelstone, and so on. Anything in the vicinity, more or less. If the Lost Deep was your destination, for instance, I guess that could count as an extension of the summit.

[High Lord Tolkien]

What was the Forestal's Question to Linden when she went to the past in FR?

He asked Linden: What the "whiteness" is that Brinn was talking about in the following quote: "The limbs of our women are brown from sun and birth. But there is also a whiteness as acute as the ice which bleeds from the rock of mountains, and it burns as the purest snow burns in the most high tor, the most wind-flogged col. For that whiteness, we gave ourselves to the Dancers of the Sea.""

[dlbpharmd]

So, I would cast a vote for the slope of Mt. Thunder.

I tried adding more options to the poll, but found the limit. So I kinda went synecdoche with the options: Kiril Threndor is used to mean Gravin Threndor, Glimmermere means Revelstone, and so on. Anything in the vicinity, more or less. If the Lost Deep was your destination, for instance, I guess that could count as an extension of the summit.

I've edited your poll to reflect your intentions re: Kiril Threndor.

[peter]

I don't know whether it will all end there or not - though am I right in thinking that both Chrons 1 and 2 did so - but I agree that Revelstone will be a big part of the Last Dark. I am much loking forward to (hopefully) some real 'storytelling' re the Haruchai/Masters thread of the story, which to date has been hinted at but not explored.

"Where will it all end!", he says wringing his hands in supplication to the great god Srud "Where *will* it all end!"

[Seareach]

What was the Forestal's Question to Linden when she went to the past in FR?

I haven't got my copies of the text handy, so can only remember the last bit of what Wildwood says:

"Must it transpire that beauty and truth shall pass utterly when we are gone?"

And, well, I'd love to discuss the topic of the thread but I think I'll have to pass...utterly!

[Tefazipipo]

Perhaps in The Lost Deep. There is a duplicate of Foul's throne there...

[Vraith]

but I agree that Revelstone will be a big part of the Last Dark. I am much loking forward to (hopefully) some real 'storytelling' re the Haruchai/Masters thread of the story, which to date has been hinted at but not explored.

Something, maybe a lot, but at least one major turning point, has to happen there for sure...I mean, the Ramen have been sent to persuade the Master's...but except, perhaps, Andelain all the other "important" locales seem too far away even if everyone is on Rany-back. considering there are only a couple days left...UNLESS the big event for the Har. involves use of power [or an alliance with the Insequent?...something else?]
And...will the Worm head straight to Blood of the Earth?...which skips most of the important places [if it really is right in front of TC, offshore of Foul's Creche] ...or will it follow the water path that earthpower takes in reverse? Which takes it to Lifeswallower, Mt. Thunder, Andelain, Gallows Howe, Earthroot [a likely choice...IIRC it's a cavern? and it is the very last place before the actual Blood o'Earth?]

And...will dealing with Worm, LF, SHE all happen at the same time/place? I wonder...

[Hashi Lebwohl]

And...will dealing with Worm, LF, SHE all happen at the same time/place? I wonder...

Probably so. What better way to resolve everything at once then by having all major players come together. Besides, I suspect Foul would like to see the Worm drink the Earthblood and become strong enough to break the Arch; tihs would make his victory and translation out of the Land more sweet.

[Ananda]

And...will dealing with Worm, LF, SHE all happen at the same time/place? I wonder...

Probably so. What better way to resolve everything at once then by having all major players come together. Besides, I suspect Foul would like to see the Worm drink the Earthblood and become strong enough to break the Arch; tihs would make his victory and translation out of the Land more sweet.

Foul gloat??? Never!! I wonder if he has prepared a speech?