The matter of Loraan's soul surviving Blackwand is an interesting question. It probably is a clue that points towards some strange things about great weapons as a whole. The great weapons we are familiar with are being used against the Jenoine in the interests of the Lords of Judgement. It stands to reason that if something odd happens, or doesn't happen involving one of these powerful artifacts, it is in the best interests of the gods against the Jenoine, particularly if the odd thing involves a soul. Could they have decided not to destroy Loraan? In the second conflict with Loraan, who actually *did* kill Reigns? It could have been Loraan, or it could have been someone manipulating Vlad into killing him again. Which side of the gods/Jenoine conflict wanted Vlad to have a great weapon? Who exactly did choose to reincarnate his soul into an easterner? The answers to these questions could be either the gods, or the Jenoine. I can' t decide if I'm being a good Yendi by looking for all the potential twisted plots, or a bad Yendi in not figuring them out. -Greg Schwartz