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Memories of Ice
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MOI - Chapter NIne - NO SPOILERS - 5 Chapter Week
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So Toc has had enough of his companions and decides to take his chances with the Tenescowri since they're heading toward Whiskeyjack and the others.
Mod
As crazy as that sounds, that is actually true. What does that say about Envy? That you'd rather ride with thousands of starving cannabilistic, corpse shagging religious nuts then carry on with her quest.
Lee wrote: "LOL @ Thena.As crazy as that sounds, that is actually true. What does that say about Envy? That you'd rather ride with thousands of starving cannabilistic, corpse shagging religious nuts then carr..."
Exactly!
I think the problem is that the sanest of the Lady Envy group is probably Envy, or possibly Tool. The Segulah are all bonkers, and it turns out that the undead Ay is the nice one of the two pets.Envy keeps telling Toc that he will have to trust her, and he refuses. As the ante gets raised and raised on her romantic interest, its too much for him. I wonder if the breaking point is when she petulantly says to him that he was just like Rake.
Having said that, Toc is jumping from one bad situation that he doesn't understand to another bad situation that he doesn't understand. When you say "cannibalistic, corpse shagging religious nuts" you really should stop dwelling on their good points.
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message 7:
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Lee, High Priest of Shadow
(last edited Apr 07, 2013 07:54PM)
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I am curious, Seerdomin. Why build a temple in such a paltry settlement? Particularly if you then execute all the inhabitants?'
'The inhabitants were rewarded, not executed,' Kahlt said, face darkening. 'We only execute criminals.'
'And the victims were satisfied with the distinction?'
Mad as a hatter
Her eyes hardened. 'If the inhabitants are foolish enough to threaten us, they shall know my wrath. And Garath's as well. If you think this is ruination now, your judgement will receive a lesson in perspective, my dear. Come.'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Familiarity breeds facetiousness, I see. How regrettable.'
I get such a kick out of Envy! And what does this all say about Toc who is pretty much holding his own? Impressive!Do we know yet what Gothos' Folly was? I hope not because I can't remember!
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David Sven, Mortal Sword..Meow
(last edited Apr 08, 2013 03:08AM)
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Or did you mean why is it called Gothos' Folly? What was his actual "Folly?"
According to Mappo last book
Consider,’ he continued, ‘Gothos’s Folly. Gothos’s curse was in being too aware – of everything. Every permutation, every potential. Enough to poison every scan he cast on the world. It availed him naught, and worse, he was aware of even that.’
The historical reference at the beginning of this chapter gives a good example of conflicting POV's amongst historians. The historian in this section asks
Should we give credence to Gothos’s hoary tome, his glorious ‘Folly’?
The historian ie Esslee Monot The Dubious, is questioning Gothos account of the origins of the K'Chain Che'Malle. Gothos had the K'Chain Che'Malle pre-dating Jaghut and Imass, making the construction he was commenting on at least half a million years old.
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Their only purpose was to wage war on the Jaghut. So single minded to this end that they abandoned everything they were - their faith, religion, spirits etc.
I’d imagine they’ve little need for spirits or gods or faith, even. They exist to wage their war, and so long as a single Jaghut’s still breathing on this world...’
But what happens when they have hunted the last Jaghut down? They still remain undead and now without purpose. How do they stop?
‘What if the war’s ended? What next, for the T’lan Imass?’
He considered, then slowly said, ‘A second Ritual of Gathering?’
‘Mhmm...’
‘An end? An end to the T’lan Imass? Hood’s breath!’
‘And not a single spirit waiting to embrace all those weary, so very weary souls ...’
And we know the Imass are indeed Summoned to a second gathering by Silverfox.
Another interesting little tidbit
‘When you fall to dust the way you do,’ Toc asked, ‘are you entering your Tellann warren?’
‘No. I simply return to what I was meant to be, had not the Ritual taken place.
And Toc the Younger is Cartheron Crust's nephew
my mother was Captain Cartheron Crust’s sister,
The dogs prowling the temple and slaughtering was very cool. No cannibalism or dead bodies being raped that night.
Mod
Hetan certainly knows what she wants, what she really really wants.
Thanks David on the reminder of what the Folly was - the tome.LOVE those doggies!
Mod
Yes, which is why he was keen to follow along with Envy -to check out the "Pannion" - a Jaghut name.
Mod
Also, the whole 'dead seed'. Eww. Just no.
David Sven wrote: "And Toc the Younger is Cartheron Crust's nephew
my mother was Captain Cartheron Crust’s sister,."
Remind me again who that is. That the captain of the ship Kalam was on last book?
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Mod
The Imperial occupation is managed by Malazan merchants, a situation unchanged since Pormqual assumed the title of High Fist four years ago.’
Bult asked, ‘Who was High Fist before him?’
‘Cartheron Crust, who drowned one night in Aren Harbour.’
Kulp snorted. ‘Crust could swim drunk through a hurricane, but then he went and drowned just like his brother Urko. Neither body was ever found, of course.’
‘Meaning?’
Kulp grinned at Bult, but said nothing.
‘Both Crust and Urko were the Emperor’s men,’ Duiker explained. ‘It seems they shared the same fate as most of Kellanved’s companions, including Toe the Elder and Ameron. None of their bodies were ever found, either.’ The historian shrugged. ‘Old history now. Forbidden history, in fact.’
and
You forget, Historian, that before Laseen became Empress, she was close companions with Crust, Urko, Ameron, Dassem and the others.
Mod
Duffy wrote: "I think the problem is that the sanest of the Lady Envy group is probably Envy, or possibly Tool. The Segulah are all bonkers, and it turns out that the undead Ay is the nice one of the two pets...."
i thought Baaljagg was the last remaining mortal Ay?
I quite like Lady Envy and her group, she makes me smile, but aye, i'm not sure i would want to put up with her like Toc has to :)
The children of the dead seed. Ewww indeed.
The term had come up earlier and i was hoping it was anything... but this!
Mod
That was my understanding as well.
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‘Generous of you, Onos. You have a mortal ay for a companion, I see.’
‘As mortal as you, Kilava Onass.’
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LOL after reading this series I started saying 'aye' a lot.
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LOL after reading this series I started saying 'aye' a lot."
Ha Ha! I missed that. Good one Hanne.
I just had the best giggle at Toc's relieved commentThe K'Chain Che'Malle thundered as it struck the ground, legs kicking and tail thrashing. Then its movements ceased.
'Well,' Toc said after he'd regained his breath, 'that wasn't so hard. Those beasts look tougher than they are, obviously. Good thing, too. We'll just stroll into the Domin, now, right? Gawking at Bastion's wonder, then beyond-'
Comic relief
I am surprised as to how lady envy can still use her warren even when she is so close to the domin.
i love lady envy. my favorite character in the series so far !
The dialogue between envy and Toc in this arc has been great. I hope we see more of Envy soon. I've also really liked the friendship between Toc and Tool. The puppies were awesome. The 'mortal aye' is really cool and Garath... what is Garath exactly? He's as big as a hound of Shadow and I remember 1 line where Envy implies the Hounds might be trying to recruit him (can't be bothered finding it though). I'm not sure about the Segulah though. On one hand I like their similarities to the Samurai (deadly swordsman with strict codes of honour from an isolated island) who (like most nerds) I've always thought were really cool. On the other hand they seem ridiculously OP. I don't mind the 'third' being so badass given that he's one of the champions of an intensely martial race but a random 14 year old was able to give Tool (the greatest swordsman among a race of undead warriors with thousands of years of experience) a difficult fight. Seriously? I also didn't really like how they were able to easily dispatch one of those sword-dinosaurs without even taking a scratch. Erikson has done a great job establishing those things as formidable creatures who inspire terror whenever they show up but that one of them was poned so easily really undermined that. I also seem to remember that a squad of 30 grey-swords (highly professional, effective mercenaries) lost like 20 guys killing 1 of those things while 60 T'lan Imass died killing 4. I don't know what the 'badassery exchange rate' is but that scene made those two groups (who I really like) look like wusses compared to the Seguleh. The ending was really interesting with Toc going undercover with the Tanescowri (who Duffy best described in her post :D). I hope we see the rest of the party again soon though.
On the subcontinent of Stratem, beyond Korelri's south range, can be found a vast peninsula where even the gods do not tread. Reaching to each coast, encompassing an area of thousands of square leagues, stretches a vast plaza. Aye, dear readers, there is no other word for it. Fashion this in your mind: near-seamless flagstones, unmarred by age and of grey, almost black, stone. Rippled lines of dark dust, minuscule dunes heaped by the moaning winds, these are all that break the breathless monotony. Who laid such stones?
Should we give credence to Gothos's hoary tome, his glorious 'Folly'? Should we attach a dread name to the makers of this plaza? If we must, then that name is K'Chain Che'Malle. Who, then, were the K'Chain Che'Malle? An Elder Race, or so Gothos tells. Extinct even before the rise of the Jaghut, the T'lan Imass, the Forkrul Assail.
Truth? Ah, if so, then these stones were laid down half a million – perhaps more – years ago. In the opinion of this chronicler, what utter nonsense.
My Endless Travels
Esslee Monot (the Dubious)
Dubious Esslee may have been, but the K'Chain Che'Malle are back in town!