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This is odd.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 2:06 pm
by Reisheiruhime
Ok, has anyone besides me noticed that in the chapter Gallows Howe(IEW), it seems as if Bannor is the main character, the one doing the thinking. It only seems to like that for the first page or two though. I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I was just wondering.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 3:56 pm
by [Syl]
Hmm, never noticed it before, but I see what you mean.
At the very beginning of the chapter it starts with Covenant's thoughts and such, but then he's just sitting like a lump while Bannor does all the work. These few paragraphs, though, are very interesting in that they actually describe Bannor's thoughts and feelings.
The plunging weight of water thrust them straight under. Pressure squeezed them until Bannor's eyes pounded in their sockets, and his ears yowled as if they were about to rupture. He could feel Covenant screaming in his grasp. But he held his grip in the extremity of the last faithfulness-clung to the bright strength of the orcrest with one hand, and kept Covenant from breathing with the other.
Then they were sucked into a side tunnel, an outlet. Immediately, all the pressure of the trapped air and water hurled them upward. Covenant went limp; Bannor's lungs burned. But he retained enough alertness to swing himself upright as the water burst free. In a high, arching spout, it carried the two men into the cleft of Rivenrock, and sent them shooting out into the open morning of the Black River and Garroting Deep.
For a moment, sunshine and free sky and forest reeled around Bannor, and fares of released pressure staggered across his sight. Then the fortitude of his Vow returned. Wrapping both arms around Covenant, he gave one sharp jerk which started the Unbeliever's lungs working again.
I'd say the switch was because of Covenant going unconscious and SRD not wanting to leave a gap in the narrative.
Very astute, tho, Drool Smartypants.
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 3:59 pm
by Romeo
I don't know that it was meant to be written from his perspective, as much as it was meant to be him telling the story - like Tull's Tale.
Some Spoilers!!
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2003 11:51 pm
by duchess of malfi
This entire sequence is important as to establish some continuity between the first and second chronicles. When Bannor is rescuing TC, he makes the boat move by reciting poetry in Hurachai. Later, in the second chronicles Brinn speaks of epic poets, teachers of his people. This comes at Seareach when he offers to tell the story of the Giants to spare TC. Brinn says that he is not a storyteller, but will try to tell the story anyway.
I think that Bannor IS a storyteller/epic poet, etc. as is exemplified by his reciting poetry in the boat.
The Huruchai are among the few beings in the Land who know the truth about TC in the second chronicles. I think that Bannor returns to them near the end of his life, as he states he will in TPTP and teaches them about TC.
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2003 3:02 am
by Fist and Faith
Nice job duchess!!! Actually, it only says that Bannor recited "something". But I won't argue the point with you. Whether they would say so or not, the <I>Haruchai</I> are <B>certainly</B> poets!
"In the song of the <I>merewives</I> we heard the fire of our yearning for that which we have left behind. Assuredly we were deluded - but the delusion was sweet. Mountains sprang about us. The air became the keen breath which the peaks exhale from their snows. And upon the slopes moved the women who call to us in their longing for fire and seed and offspring." For a moment, he broke into the tonal tongue of the <I>Haruchai</I>; and that language seemed to transform his visage, giving him an aspect of poetry. "Therefore did we leap to answer, disregarding all service and safety. 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."
Peaks exhaling keen breath; ice bleeding from the rock; burning snow! Poetry indeed!!! We didn't even need SRD pointing it out as he did. I had always figured their mind-speech was more conducive to maintaining a story's accuracy over long periods of time, and that's how they did it. But in addition to when they are in Seareach, Brinn mentions "tellers" when they run across <I>ak-Haru Kenaustin Ardenol</I>. They probably have perfect recall, and their standards of integrity don't allow the story to change over time, but it sure doesn't effect their artistry!
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2003 2:27 am
by kaseryn
Knowing what Bannor was going through from his own perspective made it proper edge of the seat stuff too didnt it. Here we saw the Haruchai's legendary hardiness being stretched to the limit.. and were wondering if even ol Bannor would make it through.. good stuff
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2003 1:03 pm
by vt53
I read that passage long before the second cronicals were published and never saw it as anthiing other then a way to move the story forward and re-connect the quest for the seventh ward and the battle at dooms retreat.
The Hurachi's loss of another high lord under their protection was to be one of the final straws that broke the bloodguard Vow. When the sum of their losses weighed on them it was no wonder they went home. I still was supprised to read the loss of the bloodguard in TPTP.
One of the things that made the second trilogy work was its connection to the original in many intricate ways SRD's fantacy universe is expanded but the basic rules are followed.
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2003 5:28 pm
by [Syl]
there's also a chapter in TPTP from Triock's point of view. ch. 7, Message to Revelstone
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2003 8:21 pm
by Damelon
Sylvanus wrote:there's also a chapter in TPTP from Triock's point of view. ch. 7, Message to Revelstone
The main reason for that chapter seems to me to have been to tell of the attempt and failure to provide a communication link between TC and Mhoram. TC and Mhoram, both in their own ways, were then required to go on by faith, rather than knowledge.