On Sat, 2003-08-02 at 20:35, Matthew Hunter wrote: > Well. > > That was fun. > > [SPOILERS below] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I'm just now catching up with the list since I just now finished the book.. hopefully no one's already said what I'm about to say. > * Morrolan receives a Morganti weapon, which he calls his "black > wand" (not yet capitalized) from Sethra Lavode, as tribute. Well > enough handled, yet something is still missing; I find it hard to > believe that that event alone constitutes the fulfillment > of the multiple prophecies to which we have been privy. In other > words, he still needs a soul for his sword -- and if not, well, > I confess I find the account lacking. I found the receiving of the black wand way to easy. Sethra just gave it to him. Wasn't he supposed to find it in a lake or something like that? What's with all the dreams of a lake if Sethra just gives him the sword? However, I do agree that it still needs to receive a soul. > > * The matter of Zerika's Eastern lover is explained to some > degree. My naturally suspicious mind leads me to make the > following supposition: Laszlo is Noish-pa. Evidence? They are > both witches; Noish-pa has a feline familiar; they are both from > South Adrilankha; Arra presents a precedent for the > life-extension techniques of Eastern witches; Laszlo himself > presumably survives in Vlad's time, as Zerika is still rumored to > have an Eastern lover; we have never heard Noish-pa's proper > name. Evidence to the contrary: Vlad's father, and/or mother, > presumably are descended from Noish-pa, yet we do not know if > easterners and dragaereans can interbreed that I recall; Morrolan > knows Laszlo and has met Noish-pa without expressing recognition; > Laszlo seems more comfortable with elfs than Noish-pa. > Conclusion: we do not know, yet I suspect some connection at > least. Evidence to the contrary: Vlad was not a citizen of the Empire until his father bought a title in the Jhereg. Its mentioned in one of the books (probablly _Taltos_ or _Jhereg_) that Vlad only received his link to the Orb when his father purchased the title. However, in LoCB, Laszlo is given a hereditary Emperial title, which means any children he has would be citizens and have a link to the Orb, much like Vlad became a citizen when his father gained a Jhereg title. > > * Morrolan's floating castle is quite probably held up by, as > Vlad surmised, a rune wrought in the features of the terrain > below it that continually tells the castle "Don't fall down." I seem to recall Morrolan saying he was close to being able to perform the task sorcerously. > > * I would be very much amused by a Vlad novel told from > Morrolan's perspective. Agreed Jag