>Ok, I'm as bored of this low-information-content argument as the rest, but >I can't miss the chance to point out you're quoting Vlad, who often can't >pass up an opportunity to sound like he knows what he's talking about. >For the record, he himself survives touching BW. This seems a fairly valid point; but as you recall, BW does what it feels like. If an enemy, or someone BW did not want touching her, touched her, I think hilarity would ensue. Vlad touched her because Morrolan *wanted* him to, and therefore BW herself was willing to suffer it. >> I believe, though it's never been explicitly stated, that it's also very >> difficult for the wielders to even separate themselves from a Great Weapon, >> much less have someone else touch it. This would explain not only why >> Morrolan takes Blackwand (I mean, soulmates are together no matter WHERE >> they are in relation to each other--that's part of the definition of a >> soulmate: A person who is attached to another person's soul, with the >> obvious implication that the soul is all but inseperable from the body of >> the other, and therefore, the two are always together). SPOILER SPACE >I don't know if this is true. I don't see Morrolan getting a lot of dates >if he has to keep BW (not a romantic mood enhancer, even sheathed) on his >hip. Also I don't think the byplay at the end of _Orca_ is entirely >consistent with this idea. I think you're missing my point. It revolves around an abstract kind of connection. For an instance, _Orca_ will do wonderfully. Sethra does not physically *have* Iceflame on her hip, but she could summon in an instant, should she require it. It would be rather embarrassing, don't you think, if the Jenoine chose a time when Sethra was gallivanting about as Kiera, and thus couldn't get to her weapon as fast as she possibly could. However, Sethra is Sethra, so maybe such a thing isn't possible with other GWs---but on the same line of thought, GWs are GWs. Besides, just to be petty, I don't think Morrolan would date anyone other than a Dragonlord, and I think a Dragonlord would feel, while nervous, maybe a little exhilirated sitting next to that kind of power. Or maybe it would be Morrolan's fame and honour that would do the exhilirating. But I think Dragonlord women probably find him irresistable--it's just that he doesn't seem to desire a date. Possibly because he already has Verra as a soulmate (if what he says can be believed in _POTD_, and a fiery female familiar, as well.) >>I think that, given the pointlessness of leaving Blackwand behind, >The point was so Sethra could give it to the next wielder in case the >expected but heroically prevented outcome of a stroll in the Paths was >realized and the restless J chose that moment to woke up from their winter >nap. It seems to me that Morrolan has no business going around risking >his life adventuring with Vlad. Well, see above, maybe there was a lot of >exposition about why I'm wrong that Vlad missed because Sethra and >Morrolan didn't trust him yet (well, except with half a Great Weapon and >Aliera's life.) I think if the Jenoine came, the gods would decide to take BW and give it to someone else, or barring that because of Morrolan's connection to it, decide another exception was regrettable but necessary, and cough him up to do his work. In conclusion, I don't think Steve made such a mistake as it may seem. Kudos on such a clever ploy, Steve ;P Jon _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail