The Robin Hobb Collection discussion
SoldierSon #2: Forest Mage
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Forest Mage > Part 5: Chapter 21 to 25
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ch21 - i'm not sure whether olikea will be any good for him. the poor boy is aching for any sort of friendliness now, but she just comes across as a throphy seeker. i wish he wouldn't have done that.
Mod
i wonder whether all of this will drive Nevara to the specks for sure though. he clearly gets less and less respect from the Gernians, plus with all the rumours now, where will he hide?
Mod
somewhere along the previous chapters also came the explanation of the kaembra trees, and so we got a few more clues. only these trees will take up the dead, and those are the ones at the end of the road.
so do the Specks burry all their folk near the tree, and is that why you have the fear and despair, but also why the road can't go on? perhaps if they would try to go around the kaembra trees things might fare better (even though you could argue why you'd want to continue building a road through a terrain no-one wants to travel?)
Hanne wrote: "so do the Specks burry all their folk near the tree, and is that why you have the fear and despair,"This is explained more later on
Mod
what interests me most though is what is happening with the fence on the cemetery? the previous scene we got implied that the dead has to be close to the tree, but perhaps that is not needed? perhaps the roots going to so close to the burial ground is enough?
Mod
Seems that way, it sounds like this woman might come around. Not too fond of her, but she's better than Olikea.
I kind of secretly wonder about the size of Nevara by now. I already thought to him as a 200kg man, but by now he must be 350kg or something? Spink again mentioned he got fatter everyday.
It's about time the speck show him how to unload some magic, before Olikea stuffs him with any more mage-food.
Hanne wrote: "also talks about trees when he dies. are there different trees?"I think only a certain type of tree (kaembra tree?) is used. I'm not sure if "normal" Specks get a tree.
Mod
I think only a certain type of tree (kaembra tree?) is used. I'm not sure if "normal" Specks get a tree."
That's what had me confused. Jolodi's wife was threatening to not put him near a tree when he died. But then he is a Great one, so perhaps they do?
Also forgot to mention, I'm loathing Sergent Hoster. Putting my money on him being the murderer and raper.
Hanne wrote: "Jolodi's wife was threatening to not put him near a tree when he died. But then he is a Great one, so perhaps they do?"I think that implies he would normally get a tree and so live forever - so Jolodi's wife's threat is quite serious. It would be like threatening not to bury someone alongside their ancestors or instead to leave their body out for the birds or something like that.
David Sven wrote: "He sends her to Spink's and Epiny's. Come on Nevare - let Epiny know your their already"You know that won't end well.
David Sven wrote: "Actually, it looks like the whol;e down has been prescribed with a mild dose of intoxication to beat the Speck magic"I think this may be the point Nevare keeps trying to make to the Speck, the Gernians will just keep coming. This reminds me of the American Indians and the settlement of the Western United States.
Mod
^^
yes, at first i had some sympathy for olikea too, but she seems more of a magical gold digger, rather than anything else.
And Nevare finds Tree women. It looks like she is an actual tree - she has his sabre stuck in her - somehow it's come from the dream world to here.
ch24 - Amzil follows Nevare to Getty's. Possible love interest. He sends her to Spink's and Epiny's. Come on Nevare - let Epiny know your their already!
And it looks like the best way to tackle the forest is for the workers to get really drunk.
ch25 - Actually, it looks like the whol;e down has been prescribed with a mild dose of intoxication to beat the Speck magic.
And the kaembra trees (big ass trees) are the Speck elders. Tree Woman is one of them and it seems the kaembra are the ones who make mages.
So when the Gernians are cutting down these big trees they are assaulting the Speck directly as far as they're concerned. Nevare thinks he can find a way for the Gernians to go around somehow.