MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 346 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds by Becky Anne Christensen 2) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds (sticky ropes) by Becky Anne Christensen 3) Re: Dojos? (sort of) by Lord Wurm 4) Re: Rolan's conversational habits (was: Re: Neave by Becky Anne Christensen 5) re: lifebonds vs. lovebonds by Becky Anne Christensen 6) Re: Cat People? by Becky Anne Christensen 7) Re: Non-human heralds by Becky Anne Christensen 8) Re: Kethry in Rethwellan by Becky Anne Christensen 9) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds by Becky Anne Christensen 10) Re: Companions/ Reincarnated Heralds by "Kristin A. Ruhle" 11) Re: Sun & Shadow by "Katherine M. Brielmaier" 12) Re: "Recycling" of herald's souls by Alex Neilson 13) Re: Mindspeech, was re: lifebonds vs. lovebonds. by mealink-+AT+-syd.au.swissbank.com (Kerry Mealing) 14) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 15) : Rolan by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 16) Re: The Names Issue by be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User) 17) Re: fat Heralds, was Dojos by mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) 18) Re: Non-human heralds by be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User) 19) Re: Rolan's conversational habits by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 20) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds by dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl 21) Re: An entirely BRAND NEW thread... by MURANOG THE BIG CUDDLY TROLL 22) Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds by Rosario Holsen-Baker 23) Re: Cat People? by Rosario Holsen-Baker 24) Names by "Winterwind" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 20:06:45 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds Message-ID: On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Anne Cross wrote: > > On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Becky Anne Christensen wrote: > > > Actually, the correct line is that lifebonds are rare among > > heralds and rarer still among the general population. I made the same > > mistake a while back, and looked it up. There are many Heralds, and only > > having 2 lifebonded couples is pretty rare. But it's weird to think that > > most of her hero-heroines are lifebonded. Besides Kero, I can't think of > > any body else that the books were about that wasn't lifebonded. > > The list of not-lifebonded people: > > Jadrek & Kethry > Tarma & her dead boyfriend > Elspeth & Darkwind > Nyara & Skif > Roald & his consort > Treyvan & Hydona > Skandranon & Zhaneel > Shalaman & Silver Veil > > And then there's a whole slew of characters who just don't end up > married at all. So, they're not lifebonded either. ;) > > Windbraid, aka... > ____________________________________________________________________________ > | Anne Cross | "How many witches does it take | > | juniper-+AT+-fledge.watson.org | to change a lightbulb?" | > | http://www.watson.org/~juniper/ | "What do you want to change it into?" | > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was thinking of main characters, the ones that the books are based on. But in a previous message I already noticed my lapse of thought:) Do you think it is possible for gryphons to lifebond? Or is it just a human thing? (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 20:30:57 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds (sticky ropes) Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996 dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl wrote: > I notice no-one's come back with a "stuff all bonds, gimme variety, > gimme it all, now now now" type of answer - now is _that_ significant I wonder?! > Maybe we're just an average bunch of nice people... > > tot ziens > Esmeralda Evensbane > More like we're all slightly strange, but all of us are, so here it seems normal. I know I am certainly not normal in the way that most people are. But after all there really isn't a true definition of normal. So a question, do most of you think you're different from what "normal" people are? (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 23:27:02 -0600 From: Lord Wurm To: Subject: Re: Dojos? (sort of) Message-ID: <199602010527.XAA00379-+AT+-ns1.computek.net> >word | meaning >============================================== >ObMisty |Required Misty Post >MUSH |Multi User something... like a MUD >MUD |Multi User Dungeon >filk |Horrid folk-type music about legends and stuff which lots of people here seem to like(n/o to anyone) >=============================================== ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:11:33 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Rolan's conversational habits (was: Re: Neave Message-ID: On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Rosario Holsen-Baker wrote: > *sigh* Why do we always end up rehashing everything? Not a > flame or complaint, just a tired whine from a tired long-termer (what > *do* we call ourselves, anyway? newbies vs. what?). > > |--------------------------------<>------------------------------| > | He screams and screams and pounds his head against the wall until | > | wailing phantom firetrucks paces across his vision. | > | PAIN. PAIN IS ALL HE WANTS: We shall never forget and never forgive. | > | AND NEVER EVER FEAR | > |FEAR IS FOR THE ENEMY FEAR AND BULLETS | > |-----------------------http://www.sidwell.edu/~rholsen------------------| Probably because until there are new books and plots to analyze and compare, all we have is the old stuff, unless of course we start another flying projectile fight...... (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:16:46 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: re: lifebonds vs. lovebonds Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996 EGLESTON-+AT+-bpl.org wrote: > > I suggested that Eldan and Kerowyn were lifebonded, and Anne Cross came > back with a direct quote from Misty to indicate that they weren't.... > > *rats!* and it was such a nice block tower, too. (Crash bang topple!) > > Okay, new data has arrived. Kero and Eldan weren't communicating via > a lifebond. Now what the blazes explains their ability to communicate > in such a --er-- full-bodied fashion across such distances? I just > > Hmmmm. Satellite relay?.... :-> > Well, they were both asleep at the time, so maybe that is kinda like a trance, and your abilities are stronger when in trance. Also love can do amazing things. (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:20:38 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Cat People? Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996, puppies and dragons wrote: > At 01:31 PM 1/30/96 GMT, Rosario Holsen-Baker wrote: > >On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Mary Temple wrote: > > > >> At 03:33 AM 01/29/96 GMT, you wrote: > >> >Isn't "Cat People" almost an oxymoron? > >> > >> Yes, or so my two cats tell me. :) That's why I haven't joined. :) > >> > > Augh! Like I keep saying, cats ARE people, they're just not HUMAN! > > > > > >|--------------------------------<>------------------------------| > >| He screams and screams and pounds his head against the wall until | > >| wailing phantom firetrucks paces across his vision. | > >| PAIN. PAIN IS ALL HE WANTS: We shall never forget and never forgive. | > >| AND NEVER EVER FEAR | > >|FEAR IS FOR THE ENEMY FEAR AND BULLETS | > >|-----------------------http://www.sidwell.edu/~rholsen------------------| > > > > > > > I have always held that cats are really elves in disguise. > They have pointed ears! And when mine disapears for weeks at a > time, he could be visiting the Elfhame! He's probabaly laughing at > me right now... > > > 'Reesa Raennsyr If your cat is a he and is disapperaing, he's probably off proving his manhood by getting in fights and making more little kittens. My cat is most definitely smarter than me. He has us waiting on him hand and foot. It's fairly obvious just who owns who. He even gets revenge when he's unhappy, bangs on the door stop like it;s a knocker and yells until we have sufficiently apologized with offerings and gifts. He was REALLY mad at us when we got him fixed, and after he had to have his tail amputated.....in the same visit! (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:23:34 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Non-human heralds Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996, McCaffrey's White Dragon wrote: > > On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Stormcloud wrote: > > Tarma and a herald (I can't remember who, exactly) both called > on their godesses on a hunch. When she showed up, she confirmed that she > was indeed the godess of both peoples. As an interesting side note, Tarma > had had to borrow a set of the herald's whites which the godess turned > black upon appearing. Anyway, the reason a sword-sworn would probably not > Hope I haven't pissed anyone off! > > ___________________ -==UDIC==- ________________ > |\__________________\ McCaffrey's White Dragon |\________________\ > ||Why is he talking | || | > || to that | a.k.a. || Don't ask. | > || White Coconut? | Jake Gipple \|________________| > \|__________________| (360)-887-4779 LEMUR! > Tarma went to call on her godess because she wasn't sure about trusting Roald, IIRC. Then She came, and suddenly Roald and his Companion were out there. She was wearing white because her clothes were completely drenched. This made her see that she definitely COULD trust Roald, and that they were very much alike. Then the Whites were black, not exactly sure why though. (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:25:04 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Kethry in Rethwellan Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996, McCaffrey's White Dragon wrote: > > On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Birgit Hanel wrote: > > > On Mon, 29 Jan 1996, Patrick S. Waterlander wrote: > > > > > Going back to the Companion=reincarnated herald bit, maybe Roald=Rolan? > > > > > > Declan > > > > > My impression was that *reincarnated* Heralds appear as those Companions > > who were born in Valdemar; since Rolan is a grove-born, I think that he > > is indeed some spirit that manifested in Companion-shape and not a reborn H. > > Blessings > > Birgit* > > > Didn't the mage who took over Bolthaven (Quentin, I believe?) note, upon > first seeing Elspeth ride in, that she was riding some sort of > magical-spirit-guardian thing or something? > > ___________________ -==UDIC==- ________________ > |\__________________\ McCaffrey's White Dragon |\________________\ > ||Why is he talking | || | > || to that | a.k.a. || Don't ask. | > || White Coconut? | Jake Gipple \|________________| > \|__________________| (360)-887-4779 LEMUR! > Many people have remarked about the Companions being spirit guardian's. Some even said that they sorta existed i two plains. But for some reason, they never tell the Heralds this. They always assume that if the Guardian Spirit wanted them to know, they would know. (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:26:25 -0800 (PST) From: Becky Anne Christensen To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds Message-ID: On Wed, 31 Jan 1996, Rosario Holsen-Baker wrote: > > On Tue, 30 Jan 1996, Anne Cross wrote: > > > The list of not-lifebonded people: > > > > Jadrek & Kethry > > Tarma & her dead boyfriend > > Elspeth & Darkwind > > Nyara & Skif > ^^^^^^^^^ > > > > Roald & his consort (I can't remember the name and I don't have > > my books. They're 500 miles away and stay so for the next five months.) > > Roald didn't have a consort, did he? If that's Randale, yep, he > was lifebonded too. If it's not, who the bloody heck's the consort? > > > |--------------------------------<>------------------------------| > | He screams and screams and pounds his head against the wall until | > | wailing phantom firetrucks paces across his vision. | > | PAIN. PAIN IS ALL HE WANTS: We shall never forget and never forgive. | > | AND NEVER EVER FEAR | > |FEAR IS FOR THE ENEMY FEAR AND BULLETS | > |-----------------------http://www.sidwell.edu/~rholsen------------------| > He did have a lover, she was a really down to earth person, and when Tarma and Keth arrived, they already had at least one son. I can't remember her name though. I think it started with an M. (:*BECKY*:) +--------------------+ |BLACK KNIGHT | | I'm invincible! | |KING ARTHUR | | You're a looney.| +--------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 21:55:29 -0800 (PST) From: "Kristin A. Ruhle" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Companions/ Reincarnated Heralds Message-ID: <199602010555.AA19030-+AT+-foxtrot.rahul.net> > > How long do you think it takes for a Herald to come back? Savil showed > up as Sayvil, what, two? three hundred years after she lived? (Where's > that timeline when I really need it?!) > And another thing. . . wouldn't it be funny if a Herald is reincarnated > as a Companion and becomes a parent to someone he knew when he was alive > before? Wow, what if you gave birth to your old lover? It opens up > some strange philosophical trains of thought! > More like *six* hundred years. But then, we have only those very few examples. The reincarnation thing must have started fairly early on, but I would say that heralds generally do not reincarnate as Companions until those who knew then as human are all long dead. Say, at least a century or so (like Tarma's spirit teachers.) THey do not want to take the risk of being 'recognized.' Kristin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 96 01:39:44 CST From: "Katherine M. Brielmaier" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Sun & Shadow Message-ID: <22117.brie0030-+AT+-gold.tc.umn.edu> Stormcloud wrote: And somewhere in Storm Warning, one of the Sun-priests >>mentions and old story about Vkandis having a consort. If this is >>true, read or listen to the song Sun and Shadow from Heralds, >>Harpers, & Havoc In it, *Sun*singer calls Shadowdancer "Star-eyed >>maid beyond compare." Am I grasping for a connection here? Does >>anyone else see it? then Winterwind replied: > Ooohhh, you're right.... I didn't catch the connection with >Sunsinger and ShadowDancer. I think you've got something there, but >I thought Sunsinger and ShadowDancer were supposed to be two of the >first Heralds. Wouldn't it be something if they turned out to be >Kalenal and Vkanis themselves instead?! The old song as a sort of >allegory ... > This is absolutely fascinating! Speaking as one who is passionately interested in folktales, fairy tales, folklore and all manner of ballads and songs, and as one who has done some research into the matters (i.e a potential Summa cum laude thesis) it's more than likely that this could be a reality turned-myth turned-song. After all, Heinrich Schliemann found Troy on the strength of a song, so why couldn't Velgarth have the same kinds of phenomena? This is so nifty! (I am absolutely giddy) Anyway, there are hundreds of examples in our world of ballads and epics being based on fact. The Iliad, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, bible stories, etc etc all have some loose basis in reality--very loose, in some cases, because of the obvious embellishments, but it's there. And in Velgarth it's more likely that it would have been real, because there *is* magic and there *are* gods and goddesses. And the Sun and Shadow story is relatively common in different cultures in our world: lovers separated by the boundaries of night and day due to a curse. There are a couple of Indian ones, a Chinese version, a wonderful European one (the heroine, in order to redeem herself and him, must wander until she wears out the soles of three pairs of iron shoes and eats three loaves of iron bread and stuff like that.....it's my very very favoritest tale in the wide-world.:)) And a Celtic one that brings in Selkies and the like. I would love it if Misty wrote a book about Sun and Shadow. Anyway, I suppose I can step down from the podium now, huh? (*grins sheepishly* I get a little carried away when folklore and fairy stories get tossed around.) 's e do bheatha Kaatje "Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick." Tolkien, _The Hobbit_ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 17:18:41 +1100 (EST) From: Alex Neilson To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: "Recycling" of herald's souls Message-ID: <199602010618.RAA02968-+AT+-jiji.atcafe.com.au> > > >Btw, does anybody remember the names of Yfandes' children/foals(?) ? I > >haven't read MPrice yet (shame) and am wondering if they're mentionend > >ever after (and o.c. if there's any hint whether they were reborns or not). > > i just recently finished MPrice... don't remember any mention of them at all... Nope. They're only mentioned once, and their names are never told. . . Zhai'helleva, Al the Troll (al-+AT+-atcafe.com.au) ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 96 18:19:44 EST From: mealink-+AT+-syd.au.swissbank.com (Kerry Mealing) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Mindspeech, was re: lifebonds vs. lovebonds. Message-ID: <9602010719.AA16980-+AT+-syd.au.swissbank.com> Heya Cindy! (BTW, don't stop speculating - you're raising lots of interesting points). > Okay. Savil is a Mindspeaker -- and one who can augment her powers > by using node energy as well. Starwind is also a Mindspeaker. In > MPawn, she was at Haven and he was at the Vale, but when she needed to > ask if he would help out with Vanyel, does she "call ahead" with > Mindspeech to see if he's busy with an infestation of chaos things? > Noooo. She builds a Gate -- which is exhausting as well as reeking > with unpleasant memories -- to take Vanyel to the vicinity of the > Vale before she can ask for help. While I agree with your conclusions below and have my own suggestion, it might simply be that something was preventing Savil reaching that far. Vale shields or mage workroom shields or the like may well have stopped Savil communicating (and if she knew the Vale shields would stop her, she wouldn't have wasted the energy trying when she knew she'd need it for a gate anyway). I say that she'd need a gate anyway because she'd been to the Vale and had an image so that she could build the Gate whereas the Tayledras wouldn't have had an image and hence couldn't have come to Savil anyway. Ok. Summary of that mess: 1. She might have been blocked by shields. or 2. She might not have cared whether they were busy - they were her only chance & she had to go to them because they couldn't come to her. > So what are the limits of Mindspeech? I _still_ think Kero and Eldan > are doing something extraordinary when they communicate that far. I > have to grant that it isn't a lifebond if we get that information from > Misty, because she is the "observer/creator" and makes the rules. But > that doesn't stop me from chewing on the nut... Ok, here are a couple of ideas: Theory number 1: Remember when Savil & Starwind are mind-speaking, and Moondance asks if he can join in (mentally)? Savil gets a start because only high-powered mind-speakers can hear private conversations. This, together with a few other things set me thinking. Point form because it's less confusing: (I confuse easily) :) 1. There's numerous examples of the fact that it's easier to mind-speak an individual rather than broadcast to a whole group. 2. It's easier to mind-speak someone you know well. This suggests to me that mind-speaking has 'frequencies' of a sort, where a narrow band might be used to speak to one person, or a much broader band to speak to a group. Now speculate for a moment that the 'frequency' of bands varies from person to person. This would mean that the more you could narrow down a band, the easier it would be to send/receive and consequently the further you could send. Mind-speakers would tune to a person's band when they want to send to them. If Kero and Eldan happened to tune into each other's bands very very tightly, it might be the mental equivalent of a laser, rather than a flashlight. I'd think that during their time together they did so tune (perhaps when they first opened up totally to each other when they made love?). As such they could reach extraordinary distances, but only between each other. Theory number 2: We only see Kero's point of view, but it seems as if she was communicating with Eldan when she was in a particular phase of her sleep (REM sleep?). This stage could well be the equivalent of Talia's "trancing down" - a state where mental faculties are easier to use (and hence stronger). That could be another factor helping them reach that distance. Theory 3: They met at night, in Kero's dreams. Perhaps it was the equivalent of the Dreamtime that Vanyel met Tylendel in after T suicided. That place seemed to transcend space and time. Alternatively, it might have been some sort of variation of the moonpaths. Theory 4: Remember in the BG, the tiny gryphon Keera (sp?) - the one who had such a super-powerful mind-speaking gift? She had such a strong presence. I wonder if a strong mind-speaker typically has such a strong presence - Kero, Savil, Van, Alberich. If so, perhaps Kero was simply a much stronger mind-speaker than we think.. Theory 5: I really wanted 5 because it's a neat number and did have 5 ideas at one stage, but the last one has fled my mind in terror and seems to be huddling in a corner somewhere. Alllll righty then, Chew on that. :) Cheers, Kerry. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 10:42:05 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds Message-ID: <9602010942.AA22888-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> Herald Chonni Brightwolf wrote: >I dunno, my impression from Magic's Promise was that Auntie Savil (sp?) >was very worried about Van and Lyndel, cuz Lyndel was treating Van rather >badly, and was afraid he would never let Van mature and grow. That >doesn't seem like very happy in the long run... But they were only 16 and 17 a piece with Van very new to _any_ kind of caring relationship, and 'Lendel coming to terms with his powers and responsibilities. They didn't have much chance to develop and mature the relationship beyond the initial heat of discovery and consummation - I never got an impression of years - more months between Van and 'Lendel getting together and 'Lendel's twin dying. They still had a lot of growing up of their own to do, as well as coping with the knowledge that Van's father would tear them apart if he knew - I think that, all things considered they weren't doing that badly - I look back on the 16 year old me from my lofty thirtysomething and wince - boyoboy did I think I knew it all. tot ziens, Esmeralda Evensbane ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 11:05:29 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: : Rolan Message-ID: <9602011005.AA22922-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> Lyn wrote (possibly not to the list) in reply to my mail: >>The more I think of it, the more I think Rolan's a meany. > >Well, I think I'd have to disagree with you. First of all, it says >in Storm Rising (no, this is NOT a spoiler) that yes, Rolan *can* >mindspeak anyone he wants to, but it takes a tremendous effort. In >fact, rather than say more than a couple of words, he has Florian >relay to Karal who relays it vocally to the rest of the group. So if the Monarch's Own companion is always the same companion, re- created from the grove if he's killed, never ages, etc etc, does this tell us that he's always been a lousy mindspeaker? If Sayvil can talk to anyone she choses, without great effort (I presume), it implies that Rolan does not have this particular skill, and, as he's always the same hoss, never did have. Now, I appreciate the arguments about Talia needing to stand on her own two feet, companions being there as helpmates, but look how Kris is able to chew things over with Tantris (??) - Tantris isn't a crutch, he's Kris's equivalent of a MO, and Talia berates Elspeth for not listening to Gwenna when Orthallen's stooge was trying to bed her - in other words, sometimes the companions are useful (doesn't Alberich's companion dilike Orthallen too, supporting Alberich is his dislike?). I would have thought that the MO would have benefitted somewhat from being able to discuss things with their companion, they are involved in political intrigue at court, known to have the monarch's ear, - an impartial 'person' to let off steam to/complain to/gossip to would be kinda nice for someone placed in a stressful position. So maybe it isn't Rolan that's the meany, but the greater power that created Rolan, for depriving all the MOs of the support given to so many 'ordinary' heralds. So, come and get me, I'm aspestos clad (if the flames don't kill me the lung disease will) tot ziens, Esmeralda Evensbane ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 13:17:37 -0800 From: be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: The Names Issue Message-ID: <199601312117.NAA03746-+AT+-scn.org> > >Becky wrote: > >>Okay, how did they pronounce it? [Vanyel's name] > >On Shadow Stalker, it's pronounced *both* van-YEL (short a) and VAHN-yl (Well, I >*tried* to spell it out right!) with the accent on two different syllables in >two different songs sung by Heather Alexander. Frustrating! Although I always >heard it pronounced van-YEL. IIRC, the song that they use the VAHN-yel pronunciation is the Battle of Stony Tor one, where its obviously written by someone other than Van and perhaps by a Bard similar to Leslac. therefore, my theory is that when they want Van to soudn the "great and wonderful Hero of Valdemar" they use the VAHN-yel pronunciation and when they're talking about Van as he is or if he hasn't done something particularly "great and wonderful" they use the other pronunciation... Don't know why, but that's the impression I get.... Just my thoughts... Zhai'helleva, Herald Briana -- Herald Briana Kestyl wc814-+AT+-freenet.victoria be248-+AT+-scn.org HeraldBria-+AT+-aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 10:33:38 GMT From: mel (Melanie Dymond Harper) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: fat Heralds, was Dojos Message-ID: <9602011033.AA22367-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk> Cindy wrote: > Mel ranted about never seeing out-of-shape Heralds. When I picked myself > up off of the floor and managed to stop laughing at the notion of a > Companion bellyaching at his Herald for not being able to pass up a piece > of pie.... > *grin* > Heralds can certainly get ill or depressed, either of which could > lead to them forgetting to keep up with their regimes, but the people > with the most likelihood of getting out of shape are the ones who > have jobs that keep them sedentary. > > And now, I'll go back to my giggling, thanks.... It all comes back to the discussion about what makes a good Herald. At the moment it seems that a good Herald is one who is fit (or will become so) and a fighter. We know that there _are_ Heraldic jobs which require neither of these -- it'd certainly be interesting to see a trainee who had been Chosen because the Companions thought he/she would be especially good at/Gifted for one of these jobs, but had no interest in physical exercise. (Someone in a later message to the list equated this with "lazy". Let me tell you, it ain't necessarily so. Lack of interest because of the acute boredom which sets in is not laziness.) And Kerry said: > (Actually, more likely, if I were a mind-speaking > Herald, I'd be more inclined to be practicing controlling attackers to > stop them in their tracks.) Yup. Exactly. Cheers Mel. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 12:53:28 -0800 From: be248-+AT+-scn.org (SCN User) To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Non-human heralds Message-ID: <199601312053.MAA25518-+AT+-scn.org> > A few of points. First, though I can't remember wheather I read it in >one of Misty's novels or in one of the Sword & Sorceress anthologies >(btw, another must-read for strong female heroes, ed. Marion Zimmer >Bradley), Tarma and a herald (I can't remember who, exactly) both called >on their godesses on a hunch. When she showed up, she confirmed that she >was indeed the godess of both peoples. As an interesting side note, Tarma >had had to borrow a set of the herald's whites which the godess turned >black upon appearing. Anyway, the reason a sword-sworn would probably not >be chosen is the same reason a sword-sworn would probably not become a >shaman: they already serve the goddess in a different way. It was in Oathbreakers... Pages 178-184 or so... > Companions have maintained several secrets and misconceptions about >themselves, such as the secret that they can mind-speak to anyone they >wish, the fact that they are mages of a sort, the fact that they are >'recycled' herald souls, and the misconception that they 'are' horse-like >beings. One could easily imagine a gryphon with, say, a companion in the >form of a hawk. Exactly the point I wanted to make. As Quenton says in By the Sword (Sorry I can't give page number but my cousin borrowed it and hasn't given it back yet... It's been a year and a half... ::sigh::) but he recognized the Companions as Guardian Spirits, so what's to say that they can't choose other forms? Just my thoughts... Zhai'helleva, Herald Briana -- Herald Briana Kestyl wc814-+AT+-freenet.victoria be248-+AT+-scn.org HeraldBria-+AT+-aol.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 12:07:06 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Rolan's conversational habits Message-ID: <9602011107.AA23118-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Rosario Holsen-Baker wrote: > *sigh* Why do we always end up rehashing everything? Not a > flame or complaint, just a tired whine from a tired long-termer (what > *do* we call ourselves, anyway? newbies vs. what?). > well exscuuuuuuuuse me! How about the wrinklies, or the crinklies, or the olds. All names for staid oldsters who get cheesed of with the exuberance of youth, and mutter things like "in my day ...." No? Something a bit more, um, respectful? The great ones, they-who-know-it-all, the masters, the parmesans (very old cheeses)?? What constitutes a newbie anyhow - < 3months, < 6 months, < 1 year??? I tell you after 2 months active and reading _all_ the archives, I feel like a fairly raddled long timer myself! yours in weariness, Esmeralda Evensbane ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 01 Feb 96 12:29:58 +0100 From: dbackhau-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds Message-ID: <9602011129.AA23164-+AT+-isou10.estec.esa.nl> Becky wrote: >> Roald didn't have a consort, did he? If that's Randale, yep, he >> was lifebonded too. If it's not, who the bloody heck's the consort? >> >> > > He did have a lover, she was a really down to earth person, and >when Tarma and Keth arrived, they already had at least one son. I can't >remember her name though. I think it started with an M. Wrong prince I think. The one with the baby was Idra's brother, the one about to lead the revolt against his bad brother, take the throne, give Tarma and Keth their school and grandfather Daren. Roald was footloose and fancyfree (well I don't know that, but he did visit the clans later (no I have no idea where that's said, but it is, somewhere - maybe Winds 1??)). tot ziens Esmeralda Evensbane ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 12:44:06 GMT0BST From: MURANOG THE BIG CUDDLY TROLL To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: An entirely BRAND NEW thread... Message-ID: <1FC22C13B83-+AT+-crystal.kingston.ac.uk> No list that I know of, but there is a newsgroup(alt.fan.eddings)... maybe if you post a question there you'll find out... Muranog ***************************DGIF #11027************************* *"If thou do not wish to talk, * * and thou do not wish to listen, * * then thou do not wish to live." - Dawn Taylor, Canadian poet* *************************************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 07:45:59 -0500 (EST) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Lovebonds vs. Lifebonds Message-ID: On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Becky Anne Christensen wrote: > He did have a lover, she was a really down to earth person, and > when Tarma and Keth arrived, they already had at least one son. I can't > remember her name though. I think it started with an M. > No, that was Idra's brother's name...sounds like Stefan but isn't, starts with an `s'....oh, never mind. I just got up. :) |--------------------------------<>------------------------------| | He screams and screams and pounds his head against the wall until | | wailing phantom firetrucks paces across his vision. | | PAIN. PAIN IS ALL HE WANTS: We shall never forget and never forgive. | | AND NEVER EVER FEAR | |FEAR IS FOR THE ENEMY FEAR AND BULLETS | |-----------------------http://www.sidwell.edu/~rholsen------------------| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 07:52:54 -0500 (EST) From: Rosario Holsen-Baker To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Cat People? Message-ID: On Thu, 1 Feb 1996, Korendil wrote: > Now..could some kind soul explain these groups? Cat people? TMIW? TLIG? > aaaaaahhhh!;> > Cat People: Me and Tammy Harris Ladies in Green (TLIG): Tammy Men In White (TMIW): Gyrfalcon Ones in Black (OIB): Declan? Was it you who started this? I think it's sort of like a bunch of fraternities and sororities for the list. It started with Gyrfalcon and the Men In White. Go blame him. :) Mage Wars: All right, all right, we'll take it to private. If anyone else (Sundancer asked) wants to be in on the fight, send a `watching' mail to the list and we can include you. :) |--------------------------------<>------------------------------| | He screams and screams and pounds his head against the wall until | | wailing phantom firetrucks paces across his vision. | | PAIN. PAIN IS ALL HE WANTS: We shall never forget and never forgive. | | AND NEVER EVER FEAR | |FEAR IS FOR THE ENEMY FEAR AND BULLETS | |-----------------------http://www.sidwell.edu/~rholsen------------------| ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Feb 1996 08:31:30 EDT From: "Winterwind" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-vanyel.herald.co.uk Subject: Names Message-ID: <2E5C2C5282-+AT+-pub.sbu.edu> Has anyone read the Free Bards books (4, so far) by Misty? And if anyone has, did you catch this? Kestral's father, the "bad" king --> Charlis (Charliss?) Kestral's uncle, the "good" unsurper king --> Rolend (Rolan?) the Gypsy Free Bard usually called Robin --> Gwyna (Gwyna?) Notice anything? For the latter two, what if grove-born Companions are *not* re-born Heralds, but re-born from *somewhere* else? As for the former .... hey, I don't know. Where did it say the founders of the empire came from? ((sigh))... this probably makes little sense, but I was wondering. Winterwind ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 346 *********************************