MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2134 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) magic and Arrows observations... by songrunner-+AT+-juno.com 2) Re: magic and Arrows observations... by "alix ciel" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 13:13:15 +0000 From: songrunner-+AT+-juno.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: magic and Arrows observations... Message-ID: <19991111.133343.3686.8.Songrunner-+AT+-juno.com> As for why Kethry never felt the Vrondi watching her, remember when Van was explaining the whole spell to Elspeth? I think it had something to do with the fact that they were outside the "borders" of Valdemar as far as the vrondi were concerned. Here's the quote: "The borders have changed since I set the spell, and so far as the vrondi are concerned, the "border" really ends where the presence of active, on-duty Heralds ends. They don't always notice where Heralds are unless one of them has invoked Truth Spell lately in that area. So the "borders" are changing all the time, and sometimes mages on the Rethwellan or Karsite borders, or the borders on the west, can get fairly far in before they're stopped. I'm afraid that, enthusiastic as they are, well, vrondi just aren't too bright themselves." Since Roald was not technically "on-duty", and since he never used the truth spell while they were there, there was no reason for the vrondi to recognize the hunting lodge as within the borders of Valdemar. I also just re-read the Arrows trilogy, and noticed a few odd things. First of all, do you realize that Kris never had the Death-Bell rung for him? Hulda and Ancar kept that from happening in the first place, and it never makes a mention of it happening later. I don't know about everyone else, but I thought that was really sad. Also, since I was really paying attention to it this time, there is a ton of foreshadowing for Kris' death. Throughout the last two books of the series, there are TONS of times that either someone feels a "shadow of forebodeance" or something like that when they're talking or thinking about Kris' future. It's so frustrating! Does anyone else out there ever get the crazy hope that maybe, if you read a book enough times, the ending will change? I usually end up screaming at the characters (in my head of course), hoping that somehow, just this once, they won't do something so obviously stupid and things will actually work out. Yes, I realize that will never actually happen, but it's nice to dream! Also, on page 227 or Arrow's Fall, when Dirk is trying to find out info about what's up with Talia, it says "he even queried Gwena..." Why would he ask Gwena? The only other companion that had spoken in his head was Rolan. Why wouldn't he just ask Aphrodie? Or was it perhaps just a typo? Two other quick observations. First is a question about Whites. In the Vanyel books. he keeps mentioning that Whites have an amazing tendency to stay pristine white. Then, in the Arrows book, Kris and Talia mention that they are almost impossible to keep clean. Is there an actual difference between to two whites? Last one, then I'll let you go. I don't really want to start another discussion about government, but have you noticed that, once there is offically a Monarch's Own on the Council, there is virtually no way that the monarch's decisions will be thwarted? Between the monarch's own and the monarch, who will most likely rarely, if ever, disagree, there is no way they can be outvoted. Plus there are at least two other heralds on the council. Doesn't that make the rest of the council's votes rather superfluous? Now, that's probably a good thing, since Heralds will mostly likely know the best thing to do, but if I were one of the other councillors, I think I'd be pretty ticked off about that! Well, congratuations to anyone that's managed to make it this far through all of my ramblings - help yourself to a caramel-filled chocolate sheep! Songrunner ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 20:57:18 PST From: "alix ciel" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: magic and Arrows observations... Message-ID: <19991112045719.6102.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> > Also, on page 227 or Arrow's Fall, when Dirk is trying to find out >info about what's up with Talia, it says "he even queried Gwena..." Why >would he ask Gwena? The only other companion that had spoken in his >head was Rolan. Why wouldn't he just ask Aphrodie? Or was it perhaps >just a typo? my guess is that it was supposed to be assumed that he questioned gwena through ahrodie. misty shouldn't have to be perfectly specific all the time that far into the series, imo. > Two other quick observations. First is a question about Whites. In >the Vanyel books. he keeps mentioning that Whites have an amazing >tendency to stay pristine white. Then, in the Arrows book, Kris and >Talia mention that they are almost impossible to keep clean. Is there an >actual difference between to two whites? hm... in van's time there was a flow of magic in valdemar used by heralds... during the arrows series there wasn't. whites would not stay white without some sort of magic, i don't think. (you play in a white t-shirt in the mud and see how white it stays.) perhaps that's an answer? some sort of magic coating or treatment. > Last one, then I'll let you go. I don't really want to start another >discussion about government, but have you noticed that, once there is >offically a Monarch's Own on the Council, there is virtually no way that >the monarch's decisions will be thwarted? Between the monarch's own and >the monarch, who will most likely rarely, if ever, disagree, there is no >way they can be outvoted. Plus there are at least two other heralds on >the council. Doesn't that make the rest of the council's votes rather >superfluous? Now, that's probably a good thing, since Heralds will >mostly likely know the best thing to do, but if I were one of the other >councillors, I think I'd be pretty ticked off about that! counsillors still do give opinions and have the opportunity to sway the queen and/or queen's own. it's not that different from the u.s's democracy. president has full veto rights to vote out the congress. just my .02 BlueWinds -- "I run off where the drifts get deeper Sleeping beauty trips me with her frown... I hear a voice... 'you must learn to stand up... for yourself, cause i can't always be around... When you gonna make up your mind, when you gonna love you as much as i do.....?'" --tori ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 2134 **********************************