The Malazan Fallen discussion
This topic is about
Gardens of the Moon
Group Read - Gardens of the Moon
>
GOTM - Chapter Twenty-Three - NO SPOILERS
date
newest »
newest »
Paran shares 'the blood of the Hounds' and loses Oponn's influence. The Rope now gains Oponn's sword 'Chance'. Things are rearranging themselves, are they not?
The Elder God K'rul's discussion with Rake up in the belfry of his old abandoned temple gives us just a bit of useful information--"I am manifest in this sanctified place, and manifest in a lone mortal's dreams, but nowhere else."So, what have we learned? First, K'rul can now appear in his old temple because it has been 'sanctified' with the blood that has been spilled there (i.e., the assassins' battles), and that Kruppe is the mortal that K'rul has interacted with in Kruppe's dreams.
Much, much more on K'rul to come as the series moves forward.
I love that Ganoes Paran now scares the living hell out of 'The Twins', aka Oponn. They know he's powerful, but can't quite put their finger on why. It freaks them out that 'The Rope' has 'Chance' and that Paran now has Adjunct Lorn's Otataral sword.Again, things are rearranging themselves!
Mod
I like how Paran abandons Chance to the Rope, only to end up with the Adjunct's Otataral sword instead.
Mod
message 8:
by
David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow
(last edited Feb 05, 2013 02:59AM)
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Mod
So is Whiskeyjack the Malazan version of "I took an arrow in the knee"
Mod
Rob wrote: "I'm intrigued to see more of the Crimson guard.I like how Paran abandons Chance to the Rope, only to end up with the Adjunct's Otataral sword instead."
Hehe, yeah. That was fun. :p
message 12:
by
David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow
(last edited Feb 06, 2013 01:35AM)
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Mod
I like how Paran abandons Chance to the Rope, only to end up with the Adjunct's Otataral sword instead."
Ha! A good trade. Also we do learn more of the Crimson Guard as we go - The Esslemont Novels especially goes into the Crimson Guard a fair bit.
@Chris - I noticed that about Krul. I'll be paying a lot more attention to him this time round as well.
There's so much foreshadowing happening for the rest of the series.
Also interesting that the hound's blood has left him with a connection to the hounds
Paran glanced at Rood. Kinship?
'Captain, with this one last warning: try not to be noticed. And when next you see a Hound, run.'
The air swirled into darkness around Paran. He blinked, saw the trees of the estate garden rising before him. I wonder, will I run from it ... or with it?
**************************************************
A few other things to take note of. The term "Soletaken" is being thrown about now all over the place. I couldn't remember if we had an actual definition for it yet so a quick search and it turns out we do in Chapter 11 where Tattesail is being reborn
'I understand,' Pran Chole said. 'You would make of this child, born of Imass powers, a Soletaken.'
'Yes. It is the best we can manage, Tlan. A shapeshifter – which we too know as Soletaken – must be fashioned.'
So a soletaken is a shapeshifter.
Interesting to note that when the 5 dragons (Elient) attack Raest while he's still on his way the Tyrant identifies Silanah as a True dragon - and the other four as Soletaken Tiste Andii.
'Silanah red-wings,' Raest muttered, eyes narrowing. 'Elder-born and true-blooded Tiam,(We learn about Tiam later in the series) you lead Soletaken, whose blood is alien to this world (we know the Tiste are alien to this world)I feel you all!' He raised fists to the sky. 'Colder than the ice born of Jaghut hands, as dark as blindness(Darkness is the Tiste Aspect)- I feel you!'
His eyes narrowed on the four black dragons. 'Soletaken.
So we come to this chapter and Lorn releases one of Tayschrenn's Pets. This time a heavy hitter - A demon lord AND a Soletaken and we learn that Rake himself (if we did not already suspect) is also Soletaken
Alone once again, Rake turned his attention to the street below. An apparition arrived. It paused to sniff the air, then began changing – veering. A Lord of the Galayn, and a Soletaken.
'Well,' the Lord of Moon's Spawn growled, 'so am I.'
And Rake in his dragon form is totally awesome. The scenes where he veers and when he attacks are brilliant images.
We also get a snippet of his experience with the Malazan Empire
Before him now was a battle. The Empress and her Empire had challenged him again and again, wilful in the desire to test his strength. Each time he'd withdrawn, unwilling to commit himself. Very well, Empress, my patience is at an end.
I like how it is Kruppe who organises the killing blow for the Adjunct
'Leave me be,' Lorn gasped.
'Can't do it,' Meese said. 'We been on you since Circle Breaker picked you up at the gate. The Eel says you've got some things t' pay for, lady. And we're here to collect.'
Payback's a bitch...or two.
The other thing to note about Paran - he heals quickly as he notices after Roog savaged him
'I am healing,' Paran said.
'So you are.
We also learn that Cotillion has not given up on whatever his plans were
He coughed. 'Now what?'
'Now?' Cotillion seemed surprised. 'Now I start again.'
'Another girl like her?'(ie Sorry)
'No, the plan was flawed.'
Mod
Fantastic imagery
Still gripping their cloaks, Kalam shook them both. 'Calm down. What's happened?'
Fiddler moaned and pointed up the street.
Turning, Kalam stiffened.
A twelve-foot-tall creature shambled down the middle of the road, hunched shoulders wrapped in a glittering cape with a high cowl. A two-bladed axe was slung in its wide dragon-hide belt, its handle as long as Kalam was tall. The creature's wide, squat face held two slitted eyes.
'Oh, Hood's Gates and back,' the assassin muttered.
Mod
Mod
Mod
Perhaps it has do with how powerful he is. Also(view spoiler)
Soletaken and D'ivers are also listed in the glossary at the back of the book. So two of the T'orrud cabal are killed by Vorcan and only 6 are listed in the dramatis personae. And when Vorcan is hired on by the Malazans she says she'll get paid 900,000 which either means there are 9 in the TC (at 100k a piece) or I was also thinking she could be getting a little extra since it's not like the Malazans actually know how many.
Ganoes: Cotillion tells him not to get noticed and right away he gets back to Mallet and this happens:
"Where in Hood's Name are you?"
Paran sat up. "Not in Hood's Name, Mallet. ..."
I guess he's listening to that advice now. Also, (view spoiler)
Baruk: "Seven?" Baruk said, flinching. "Hood's Breath, is that even possible?"
I guess that's not common and further evidence that QB is awesome.
I just realized that Silanah is full Eleint so when everyone goes into their human form what does she do for the party? :)
Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "I just realized that Silanah is full Eleint so when everyone goes into their human form what does she do for the party? :)"(view spoiler)
Mod
I love the interaction between Silanah and Rake just before he is about to take on the Galayn Lord.
There's a sense of a real deep bond between them as sends her home when she would rather fight with him.
Christopher wrote: "Seak (Bryce L.) wrote: "I just realized that Silanah is full Eleint so when everyone goes into their human form what does she do for the party? :)"[spoilers removed]"
I guess so!
One more thing I noticed. Rake's no dummy, he knows the Empire's plan with the Jaghut Tyrant to weaken him and yet Baruk is dying to know why he's never doing anything. I even found myself wondering at times. But it's to save your butt that's why he's waiting, Baruk. :)
At least Baruk sees that Rake's not just holding things back for no reason as he realizes Rake knew that Mammot could be possessed.
Lori wrote: "I think I'll start differentiating between the Davids by having one be Sven: [spoilers removed]"(view spoiler)
Mod
Re your spoiler - Yes, but I can't remember where exactly. Maybe in one of the poems or some offhand conversation.
Wow looking forward to finding it!
David Sven wrote: "Payback's a bitch...or two."Hehe
Lee wrote: "Way to go Crimson Guard. Cowl, Fingers and Blues. Wow,."These guys are badass. Didn't one of them smack Serrat when she was about to kill Crokus?!
Renny wrote: "Lee wrote: "Way to go Crimson Guard. Cowl, Fingers and Blues. Wow,."These guys are badass. Didn't one of them smack Serrat when she was about to kill Crokus?!"
Yeppers. A couple of times.
Mod
Yes. That would be Cowl the mage.
Please mark any other spoilers using the spoiler tags. (when in doubt, use them).