> > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: "Scott Schultz" <scott at cjhunter.com> > To: "'Dragaera'" <dragaera at dragaera.info> > Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:59:09 -0700 > Subject: Vlad "bred" to carry out a specific assassination? > Reviewing Issola in light of the current amorphia discussion, a couple of > statements caught my eye that were made by Sethra in regards to > reincarnation. > > Firstly, page 39, in reference to the Gods and their disposition of souls > that arrive at The Halls of Judgement: > > "As they review the dead, some they have no use for... Others have skills > that might someday be useful, and those are held in the Paths of the Dead > against that use, or reincarnated into circumstance where their skills can > develop." > > Secondly, page 41, in reference to Destiny and past lives: > > "Think back to your own past, Vlad: I know what Aliera told you about your > past lives, so consider her words now... Consider those you know of who > were > once your family, and those who mattered to you in a time too faded in the > mist for you to imagine, much less remember. Kieron... remains in the > Paths > of the Dead... I, who had some importance in the tribe, am here... trying > to > see that nothing upsets the balance. I think we were all, even then, > marked > out by the gods. I can't say I like it much, or that you should, but there > it is." > > What Sethra is suggesting here is that it's not an accident that the > leaders > of the tribe that became House Dragon and, in Dolivar's case, spawned > House > Jhereg, are still around and acting as movers and shakers of present day > events. Whereas Aliera views Dolivar's reincarnation as an Easterner to be > sort of a case of mystical irony, Sethra's statements about the true > purpose > of the Paths suggests a different interpretation. > > If Sethra is right, that the Gods chose Kieron, Dolivar and Aliera-Who-Was > as important pawns even before the formation of the Empire, then the event > of Vlad's birth becomes less an accident than a matter of planning. > There's > no good reason why a Dragaeran soul should have reincarnated into an > Eastern > body. An "odd interaction of reincarnation and genetics" doesn't really > explain anything; it's just a judgement of observed facts. > > Whether it was held in the Paths for the right time or allowed to > reincarnate a few times until it was needed, the implication is that > Dolivar's soul was kept and deliberately reincarnated into an Easterner > when > the need arose. > > Given the short lifespan of Easterners and the possible subsequent loss of > Dolivar's soul (Eastern souls don't go to the Paths), the need must be > urgent (when seen relative to the lifespan of a Dragaeran or the > immortality > of a God). It's no accident that Vlad is good at what he does; he's had a > lifetime(s) of experience previously. It's no accident that he has the > favor > of Verra. He was "created" by her in a very real sense. It's no accident > that Godslayer came into his possession. The Gods "bred" him because they > sensed the impending emergence of Godslayer and they needed someone to > wield > it who would learn the neccesary skills quickly and carry it loyally. > > Note that I'm not suggesting that the Gods literally said "We need someone > to carry Godslayer." It's clear that the Lords of Judgement don't see all > ends, and Verra was rather horrified to find out that Vlad was carrying > Spellbreaker around. When she DID find out, she must have realized what it > meant and, perhaps, started to see why this particular servant of hers had > been neccesary to create. > > Now that Godslayer HAS emerged in the hands of a minion who is mystically > "appropriate" for its intended purpose, I'd expect events to start > steamrolling toward a conclusion of some kind. Note that "steamrolling" in > Dragaeran terms might be a decade or ten. It will happen "soon", though, > unless Godslayer is somehow able to extend Vlad's lifespan beyond the norm > for an Easterner. The important thing is that Dolivar, Aliera-Who-Was, and > Sethra are all wielders of Great Weapons in the service of Verra. Kieron's > Greatsword is nearly as good as a Great Weapon in the way that ancient > heroic swords tend to be and there's little doubt that he could take it > back > if he chose. Whatever purpose the Gods marked these people for, to use > Sethra's words, would appear to be coming to a head. > > The question now is, "Who is the target of _The Final Contract_?" Who has > Vlad been "bred" to kill and will he prove capable in the end? Assuming he > survives the experience, what then? Mod +1 Insightful! Scott, this is what I've been thinking too, but expressed much better. Would you mind if this speculation showed up on the Lyorn Records wiki? \Steve the younger