Timewaster's Guide Archive

I have finally crawled back onto the edge of the Earth! 

In regards to how color is used in Awakening:

We know that black can be used to Awaken (because Vasher has used it), that black is the absence of light and the presence of pigment; that when color is 'drained' from an object is becomes gray, and that gray is the presence of light and in Hallandren (I think) the absence of pigment.  So I think that Awakening drains pigment, not reflected light, and could be used in the dark.

On lifeless:

While a Lifeless doesn't need to breathe, they might be able to breath on command.  Also, while I'm sure a dead plant could be awakened, I would like to know whether it could be made into a Lifeless.

And the last two chapters:

I liked the scene where Lightsong took over the Lifeless.  It was such a departure from his usual character that it really underscored the way he was taking responsibility.

Is the thing about the God King being able to break lifeless quickly true, or propaganda?

As for the 'romance' scene, I got a laugh out of using cliches literally.  If its an unconventionally used cliche, does it still count as a cliche?

It sounded to me like Siri was going to wait until the big meeting and talk to Lightsong then.  But some clarification would be good, and, if she is waiting, why?

It was made pretty clear in the early chapters that the king of Idris does not want war, but believes it is inevitable.  It was also very plain that he could not have wanted Vivenna dead.

David,

All BioCromatic entities we have encountered so cannot survive without Breath.  Awaken objects are no longer Awakened when their Breath is removed; Returned die when they give up theirs.  Humans are different because they can give up Breath and go largely unaffected.

What is your definition of a BioCromatic entity?  From reading your table, and your comment in your last post, it seems that you are trying to say that 'BioCromatic entity' describes all matter.

Great chapter.  I don't know why, but I thought Vasher saying that one broken down door does about the same thing as another was hilarious.

What really struck me was was Vasher's reaction to Vivenna's mention of Clod.  It looks like Clod was someone important to him, and I would be willing be willing to bet that Jewels is a Drab because she used her breath to Awaken him.  Perhaps he was named 'Clod' as an insult because he was an enemy of Denth's, and this would make Jewel's reference to running away with Clod make some sense.

was it created by using a Returned's (god) breath, one with a dark presence unlike Lifesong's heroic one.  The name, Nightblood, is even like that of a Returned God.  Makes me ask, was there ever a Returned named Nightblood.

I think it's more likely that Vasher created Nigthblood–it was mentioned in one of the earlier chapters that he had Awakened metal before.  It would also add a level of irony to Nightblood's comments that it was made for killing.

You people all to seem to be making a big deal out of 'Seb,' but that nickname has been used before I'm pretty sure.

I don't think Susebron is Returned; that is why he will be able to use/pass on his Breath, and why he gains more from the people who give their Breath to him (a normal Returned doesn't gain more Breath, only energy to survive another week).  His priests have been giving him 2-4 Breaths a week, rather than the normal 1, both to grow his collection of Breaths and so that he doesn't get suspicious when he doesn't fade like a normal Returned would.  Also, the explanation that 'the God King is different' is used much too often for it to actually be true.

I like the way EUOL handled the end of 44; somehow raunchy just wouldn't work with 'Seb.'

So is Lightsong going to tell his priests about his dream, is he going to believe it is prophetic and, if so, what will he do about it?

The way people sense BioCromatic auras is by the brightening of colors around the person with the aura: fireworks are brighter around the returned, white splits into its components near Susebron, etc.

People with less noticeable auras (such as Vivenna now) have less noticeable auras that most people must look closely to see.  People with large numbers of Breaths are more able to see the colors, and can sense the changes caused by auras more easily.

I think what you are thinking about with Jewels is that she is not able to sense people watching or approaching her, i.e. she has to actually look at someone to know they're there, while people with Breath are able to sense others' presence.  Drabs are less aware of others.

Now that REALLY makes me think Clod is a more complex character than the typical lifeless, even if that doesn't say much.  I's also like to know who he was.

As far as the King of Idris being involved in trying to start the war, I think it is plain from early chapters that he does not want a war, only believes it to be inevitable.  Most of what he knows would be based on Lemks' reports, so he may have be being used as a pawn like Vivenna was.

About Vivenna...it's hard to say how a person would react in circumstances like that.  She has just spent the last week thinking about how incapable and worthless she is and how much damage she has just done; at this point she has no more idea what to do than she did when she was on the streets.  Making any sort of decision in that circumstance would be extremely difficult, and most would react by either refusing to do anything at all or letting someone else do their thinking for them.  The latter plan will not help with avoiding being used, but it is definitely easy.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the possibility that Vasher is a sort-of-good guy.  He is apparently against war and wholesale slaughter, but definitely does not have problems with fighting or small-scale slaughter.

Official Predictions of Master Bombadil (for what they're worth):

I am now quite certain that Vasher will teach Vivenna to use her breaths.

I am also now convinced that Susebron will use his breaths at the end of the book, likely to stop the war.

Great chapter, I didn't stop laughing the whole time.  Excellent way to force Lightsong into some responsibility.

No, Allmother is not going to last long, with her aged appearance, caring for the people and reference to a need to spread out the commands.

I think Lightsong is more interested in stopping the war than winning it, and now I definitely think he is going to give up his breath for Susebron.

Hopefully, we will also be learning more about Calmseer.  She is important in some way we don't know about yet.