Spoiler (sorta) Space I think using the GS method as justification isn't valid. In several of the Vladiad there are continuous foreshadowing to the fact that Vlad should name the Chain (_Taltos_), or that it "hasn't woken up", or that "SHE is not altogether here" (_Dragon_). I feel that the (re-)Creation of GS is completely and utterly about 'Predestination', since it has been alluded to since I don't know when. In fact, the events circulating around A getting PF could also be described as a limited predestination. No one has pointed out the other fact that the Great Weapons are a Draegeran "thing" (for lack of a better word), yet an Easterner is now (has been?) the possessor of one. Doesn't that kind of 'screw' with the whole concept? I feel that the 17 GWs are all controlled by a form of Pre-destination, and are Destined to arrive in whomever's hands they arrive in. In otherwords "It was meant to be." Katt President, Southern California IFGS socal.ifgs.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Carey" <greyw01f at hotmail.com> To: <dragaera at dragaera.info> Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 9:35 AM Subject: Great Weapons > > Okay, here's my take (my two cents) on GWs. > > 1) A Great Weapon is different from a regular Morganti weapon in that a) it > is vastly more powerful b) its sentience is on another level (a Morganti is > just feral and murderous, whereas a GW can be calculating as well) > > These two differences and their implications (notably, that they can act > according to their own agenda, given the opportunity, and that agenda is not > just drink all the souls you can) seem to imply that each GW is imbued with > a soul. > > However, I would argue that the Serioli smiths put in a good number of > failsafes. Morganti weapons were created to make the idea of war so > horrible that no one would ever partake in any, ever again. This obviously > doesn't work in reality, but I think the same idea was behind the use of the > Great Weapons as well as the idea that this world would need some defense > against the Gods (among whom you will find the Jenoine--they ARE gods of a > sort) > > So, A Great Weapons also > 2) has an agenda of its own, possibly built in by the Serioli. > > 3) A great weapon, as one of its failsafes, has a certain key to its use. > That key is an external soul, that wields this weapon. PF only seems to > work to its full potential when Aliera takes it up. It seems to want to get > to her, as well. BW, I don't know about all that much, but I would imagine > that, given certain clues, he was *meant* to wield it. > > Iceflame is wielded by an undead soul, but still an external one. By the > way, in the Vladiad, I think _Taltos_, Iceflame is described as being a > weapon of such power that only the Orb and Godslayer are its equals. > > Now, another interesting point to bring up is this: why are all the Great > Weapons swords (a possible exception is Iceflame, again, but it is a long > dagger, which is essentially a short sword)? Is the orb a GW? Anyone who's > been involved in weapons practice knows that a sword is a nicely rounded > weapon--but sometimes, a sword just can't compare, or isn't the right tool > for the job. A staff, for instance, can do things that a swordsman wouldn't > have a chance against. However, I would imagine that a GW has to have a > blade on it, therefore, is it possible that a GW could take the form of a > glaive, or a spear, or something of the like? > > Anyway, back to my point. The essential requirements for a GW seem to be: > 1) a greater sentience (probably a soul, destined to be bound to the > specific weapon) > 2) a particular wielder > 3) possible other parts, like Spellbreaker. > > Ah whatever, I'm just repeating myself. :) > > Jon > <html><DIV> </DIV></html> > > _________________________________________________________________ > Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail