AMRT Chapter 35: An Old Ally of the King
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 8:20 pm
Geographically, if there was ever a more informative or frustrating chapter in all of Mordant's Need it's An Old Ally of the King. I don't know if Stephen R. Donaldson had a map in mind or was deliberately trying to swill us into chaos with his directions and description of Mordant, but, in anycase, to someone like me who has actually attempted to make a map, he has definately achieved his goal with the latter.
So I direct you attention to my rendering of Mordant: Mordant Map
After Eremis suceeds in burning Houseldon, and it's surviving citizens beat a safe retreat to The Closed Fist, Terisa and Geraden ride out in an effort to gather support for King Joyse. There first destination is Sternwall, the seat of the Care of Termigan. Donaldson has them traveling in a northeasterly direction, following the Broadwine River, aways, towards the Demense. This combined with all the other descriptions and directions in the book(s) really makes no sense unless Sternwall is north/NE and right next to Rostrum-the famous Termigan wine making town. Anyway, we are now out in the open and Terisa and Geraden undertake a four day journey to an old ally of the King.
They cross the Pestil's Mouth, a spur of the Pestil River into the flinty landscape of Termigan also known for it's abundant wheatfields and vineyards. Terisa, inwardly-and eventually outwardly, complains about the continued days on horseback but, in all enjoys the expanse of Mordant as her and Geraden's relationship deepens. I put Sternwall at a different location on my map to be more accessible to the defense of it's Alend border and after Geraden explains Mount Kelendumble's relationship to the joining of all three borders (Domne, Tor and Termigan) it, sorta has to be there...
Anyway, they finally draw within sight of Sternwall and can clearly see the bubbling pools of liquid rock before the stronghold that Eremis had (mockingly) told of before, Pits of fire appear in the ground of Termigan--almost within the fortifications of Sternwall. The granite walls were on the verge of collaspe and soon the seat's occupants would be burned out of their homes.
'She was taken completely by surprise when a touch of cold as thin as a feather and as sharp as steel slid straight through the center of her abdomen.'
Sorry things got busy and I can't miss the football game! I SWEAR this will be done my 12pm Friday!
coming up:
G & T are attacked by horse-eating black super Pac-Men
Terisa gets whacked on the head
Termigan none too happy
Geraden gets pissed
No help forthcoming
So I direct you attention to my rendering of Mordant: Mordant Map
After Eremis suceeds in burning Houseldon, and it's surviving citizens beat a safe retreat to The Closed Fist, Terisa and Geraden ride out in an effort to gather support for King Joyse. There first destination is Sternwall, the seat of the Care of Termigan. Donaldson has them traveling in a northeasterly direction, following the Broadwine River, aways, towards the Demense. This combined with all the other descriptions and directions in the book(s) really makes no sense unless Sternwall is north/NE and right next to Rostrum-the famous Termigan wine making town. Anyway, we are now out in the open and Terisa and Geraden undertake a four day journey to an old ally of the King.
They cross the Pestil's Mouth, a spur of the Pestil River into the flinty landscape of Termigan also known for it's abundant wheatfields and vineyards. Terisa, inwardly-and eventually outwardly, complains about the continued days on horseback but, in all enjoys the expanse of Mordant as her and Geraden's relationship deepens. I put Sternwall at a different location on my map to be more accessible to the defense of it's Alend border and after Geraden explains Mount Kelendumble's relationship to the joining of all three borders (Domne, Tor and Termigan) it, sorta has to be there...
Anyway, they finally draw within sight of Sternwall and can clearly see the bubbling pools of liquid rock before the stronghold that Eremis had (mockingly) told of before, Pits of fire appear in the ground of Termigan--almost within the fortifications of Sternwall. The granite walls were on the verge of collaspe and soon the seat's occupants would be burned out of their homes.
As Terisa and Geraden make their way between the fire pits a group of the Termigan's men come out to meet them and confirm their identities before allowing them in. Terisa, being concerned about city's plight, doesn't twig, until the last moment, to the significance of being within translation range.Geraden scowled at the sight bitterly, "Glass and splinters!" he murmured. "Oh Eremis. No wonder the Termigan doesn't trust Imagers ."
"I don't understand." Terisa had to swallow hard to make her throat work. "Why? I mean why do it this way? Why not put this--this lava?--why not translate this lava right into the city and be done with it?"
"It's more fun this way," grated Geraden. Then he shook his head. "No, that's not it. Sternwall itself probably isn't in the Image. The mirror they're using probably shows a place up in the hill somewhere. This is as far as they can adust the focus."
'She was taken completely by surprise when a touch of cold as thin as a feather and as sharp as steel slid straight through the center of her abdomen.'
Sorry things got busy and I can't miss the football game! I SWEAR this will be done my 12pm Friday!
coming up:
G & T are attacked by horse-eating black super Pac-Men
Terisa gets whacked on the head
Termigan none too happy
Geraden gets pissed
No help forthcoming