Questions About White Light Red Fire

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When Oien offers King Dewar the chance to rule through the red stone called othium, what does their first meeting show about each man’s aims and limits of power as seen in the red fire display and their words?

Robert Reid I think from the outset Oien simply views the King as an inconvenient necessity. The King has the armies to allow conquest and the manpower to reopen …moreI think from the outset Oien simply views the King as an inconvenient necessity. The King has the armies to allow conquest and the manpower to reopen the othium mines. Initially their aims are aligned. Both want the riches and resources in Amina in the south. Oien knows the King understands the power of a harsh ruler. The demonstration of the red fire is impress on the King he knows nothing of supernatural power and he knows the demonstration puts the King on the back foot. However the King has been thwarted in his ambition to conquer Amina. He would give anything to resurrect his goal of acquisition of Amina and recognises that Oien’s magic might provide the solution. I think if Amina had been securely conquered then Oien would have removed the King. He had history of doing this – Page 104 in White Light Red Fire. (less)

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At the first stand near the Pass of Ing, which specific choices by the defenders turn Ember cavalry strengths into weaknesses, and how does the terrain make those choices work?

Robert Reid The first choice the defenders made was to meet the cavalry where the Pass of Ing narrowed between two steep cliff faces. The narrows were further tig…moreThe first choice the defenders made was to meet the cavalry where the Pass of Ing narrowed between two steep cliff faces. The narrows were further tightened by building two stone bulwarks in the space between the cliffs. The Ember cavalry were further fooled by the fact the defending pike front lines formed in front of the bulwarks thereby disguising the fact that the real front line was only four ten yard channels. As the front pikes were pulled back and the front line of defenders retreated behind the bulwarks the charging cavalry were forced into narrow killing zones of pikes. The attackers had no room to manoeuvre and the speed of the charge became a weakness rather than a strength. Similarly the expertise of the attacking cavalry with their lances was negated by the narrow fighting ground. However perhaps the most important choice the defenders made was to have John Burnett dressed as Lord James Cameron, the sworn enemy of Elan of Ember, the leader of the invaders. The thought of besting his greatest enemy caused Elan to make rash choices which in the end would prove fatal. So the landscape and deception forced mistakes and lust for revenge hastened catastrophe. (White Light Red Fire pages 40-44) (less)

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In the opening meeting between Oien and King Dewar, the red fire is shown as something both feared and desired. What does this scene suggest about how each man understands power and control, and which moment in their exchange felt most revealing to you?

Robert Reid I think King Dewar relates power to land and wealth. The more land he controls the more gold he can gather. The greater his wealth, the greater his ru…moreI think King Dewar relates power to land and wealth. The more land he controls the more gold he can gather. The greater his wealth, the greater his rule. Land and wealth are things King Dewar understands. They are measurable and quantifiable. Oien by contrast sees power as directly related to control over people. He achieves that control through fear. His use and control of othium gives him power over people. With othium and people to do his bidding Oien could gain control over everything. In the Second Age othium and people to do his bidding gave him control over the entire world. Again he sought world domination. To achieve it he needed manpower and othium. I think the very early exchanges are most revealing. The King is all powerful and is completely dismissive of Oien at first. However he is not used to fear and the red fire is something he doesn’t understand and can’t quantify. Oien’s othium power is terrifying, something King Dewar cannot control or understand. However the King recognises Oien’s power is something he can use and when he has what he wants, the rich lands of Amina and the gold in the Doran Mountains, maybe he will have to eliminate the alchemist. Oien has no doubt that once he has his own armies he will have no need for the King. He had done the same thing in the Second Age using Vasel, the King of Elat, before disposing of him when his usefulness was no more. So the alliance was formed between King Dewar and Oien but the latter was always in control. Fear was his weapon for control.(less)

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Chapter One spends time on the rise and fall of the Second Age, including the Council of Five, world spanning machines, and the collapse that follows. How did this history shape your sense of what is at stake in the Third Age, especially when it comes to rare forces like othium and the damage ambition can cause?

Robert Reid I think this depends on knowledge and legend. Ala Moire clearly had knowledge of the Second Age and had resisted Oien in that time. He knew about the …moreI think this depends on knowledge and legend. Ala Moire clearly had knowledge of the Second Age and had resisted Oien in that time. He knew about the subjugation of people in that time but he had difficulty persuading the people of Bala until they witnessed the red fire in action at the Pass of Ing. The Coelete by contrast knew about othium from their legends and stories. They had been displaced by the othium miners in the past. As a result they were far more receptive to responding to the dangers of the red fire. As to the damage ambition can cause – look at today’s news. To much ego in too many leaders. Too much ambition too little compassion. Oien and King Dewar had no compassion. Ala Moire maybe had too much. (less)

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