Spoiler Space I don't know if this has been discussed on the list. I don't remember it, but if it has, my apologies. When explaining to Vlad about the war with the Jenoine, Sethra says of the Gods when they are reviewing the dead:- "Others have skills that might someday be useful, and those are held in the Paths of the Dead against that use, or reincarnated into circumstances where their skills can develop." Upon rereading that recently, I realised that she was probably including Vlad in the category or those who have been reincarnated to allow their skills to develop. This is further confirmed a couple of pages later when Sethra, describing the time when Zerika, Keiron, Aleira, Sethra and Vlad were forging the empire, "I think we were all, even then, marked out by the gods". So Vlad was to develop his skills to be of more use, a couple of questions arise: 1. What skills were they. Presumably assassination and skill at improvisation. I'd add getting Godslayer, but Verra didn't know about Spellbreaker until now, and has been using Vlad for longer than that, so it seems unlikely that was one of the reasons. 2. Why as an easterner? I see a few possibilities, A. They wanted his skills to develop quickly, without having to wait for a Dragaeran to mature. B. The skills required somebody who hated Dragerans as a class. C. The didn't trust him out of the Paths of the Dead for too long :) D. If Verra simply was kept in the dark by the other gods about Godslayer, did they make him an Easterner so he couldn't get back into the Paths of the Dead carrying a weapon that could destroy them. Keiron had his sword, so weapons can go with you. Mark