Kevin's Watch

Someone on another thread stated that what has provoked some of the critcisms we are hearing about Runes here is that people had a notion in their heads as to what the Land would be like when SRD brought us back there, and they found it proved false.
So I am wondering just what people did expect. Obviously, a question for those who have read the earlier Chronicles, and before spoilers about Runes started leaking out.

Here were my guesses, some dating back to the day I finished WGW:

- Covenant’s raising something out of the Wightbarrow at the end of WGW was a BIG mistake. The “something” that didn’t last long nevertheless came back.
- The people of the Land had a VERY rough time surviving after the Sunbane since they had no non-Sunbane skills (not even in mundane ways), and the desert sun had killed off the plant life, with new plants just barely starting to grow when Linden healed the Sunbane (but was unable to bring back the flora and fauana).
- The Ramen and Ranyhyn eventually returned.
- The Giants stayed to help for a while, but they were able to repair Starfare’s Gem and return Home. (This prediction is more or less what SRD did do with the story; I did not consider the repair of Revelstone’s gates though)
- Sunder, Hollian and their unborn child were rendered immortal by their crossing the boundary of Life and Death, and they became beings of mystic powers in Andelain. But after many millennia they were weary and seeking a way to die (OK, that’s a bit of a Tolkienesque theme)
- Cail’s union with the Merewives created a new variation of the Haruchai who came to the Land to challenge the old Haruchai now dwelling at Revelstone.
- The few Ur-Viles who survived regnerated their race and the Waynhim. With fewer humans in the land, the Demondim spawn became its principle inhabitants.
- Foul ultimately revived in an innocent, deceptive guise and took up his abode at Revelstone with no one the wiser.
- Something was wrong with the new Staff after all. Not evil or corrupt, just wrong (remember Covenant’s internal musing as to why prophetic Berek did not want a second Staff to ever be made). The Earthpower was being changed in profound ways, and the Elohim were losing their power (that, not just his own demise, was what terrified Findail and motivated his people to try to imprison Vain). Worse, the Staff ended up in Foul’s hands somehow and this time he could use it without it resisting him.

I had no idea what to expect.
I thought SRD had left no loose ends in the 2nd Chron.
Sure there were stories that could be explored in more detail but enough to warrent a whole new series?
Not in my mind.

I imagined the Land after the Sunbane to be like what Linden said.
It would all come back in time.
There would be forests but they would be free of the hate of the Old Forest.
Andelain would be healed and still be the heart of the land.

Free of the Sunbane the people of the Land would slowly grow in population and Sunder and Hollian would be free to leave Andelain to teach them about Earthpower (like freindly Ur-Forestals).

Some Haruchai would remain and help in the re-establishment of Revelstone as a "college" for Earthpower training and to teach the History of the Land.

Greatly diminished in numbers Urviles and Cavewrights would no longer be a threat to anyone.
The 2 remaining Ravers would be though but with the Haruchai to expose them they wouldn't be able to do much harm.

The Giants would become tourists (as they did) to the Land.
As would the Haruchai desiring to interact with the Giants.

And of course the Ranyhyn would return when the Sunbane failed.

I knew that Foul would return of course. TC said "this time" after all.
But with TC now the Arch I thought Foul was stuck for good.
And there was a Staff now. Foul couldn't use EarthPower to revive himself.
When he came back it would only be after a LONG long time.
And as an annoyance not a "Land killer".
Kevin could have contained or stopped Foul before if he didn't trust him so much to make him a Lord.
So in my head the People of the Land, once properly trained, could have "sufficed".

When I heard the news of the 3rd series I thought SRD was going to explore the evil of the Elohim.
The "Darkness" Chant was exploring within himself seemed pretty sinister.
I thought that Wild Magic would be needed and then summonded to battle "evil" Earthpower or something like that.

And I prayed that the Worm concept would be reworked or explained away.
I hate the Worm concept!!!

And I *DIDN'T* expect the Lurker of the Sarengrave to still be hanging around!!
What's with that thing anyway?
I don't have the book in front of me but it was mentioned right?

I can't wait to find out though.