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Chapter 20: The Spoilersquote:NEXT MORNING, AS TARAN had promised, he loaded Melynlas and Gurgi's pony with the potter's ware and, Gurgi beside him, set out for Commot Isav. Annlaw, he knew, could as well have sent word to the Commot folk, asking them to come and bear away their own vessels. Good lad, Llassar. quote:The men spoke hurriedly among themselves, at last agreeing that Llassar would keep watch with Taran, while Drudwas stood guard over the cattle along with Gurgi who, fearful though he was, refused to be any farther from Taran's side. By the time all plans were set and the Commot men posted among the trees just beyond the sheepfold, a full moon had risen above thin clouds. The cold light sharpened the edges of the shadows and the outlines of brush and branches. In the fold Taran and Llassar crouched amid the restless flock. For a time neither spoke. In the bright moonlight the face of Llassar seemed to Taran more boyish than before; he saw the youth was afraid and making all effort to hide it. Though uneasy himself, he grinned assuringly at Llassar. Drudwas had been right. The boy was young, untried. And yet--- Taran smiled, knowing that he himself, at Llassar's age, would have claimed the same right. The day is saved!
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# ? Feb 21, 2024 15:41 |
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# ? May 15, 2024 04:34 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 20: The Spoilers gently caress yeah! It was cool in the 3 Musketeers and it's cool here. Perhaps a less applicable life lesson for kids than some of the other stuff in the book about personal development. But it's interesting to see how personal courage, and the willingness to share risk or sacrifice for others, is kind of an underpinning virtue throughout Taran's journey.
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# ? Feb 21, 2024 17:21 |
Genghis Cohen posted:gently caress yeah! It was cool in the 3 Musketeers and it's cool here. Perhaps a less applicable life lesson for kids than some of the other stuff in the book about personal development. But it's interesting to see how personal courage, and the willingness to share risk or sacrifice for others, is kind of an underpinning virtue throughout Taran's journey. It's pretty applicable for standing up for peers who are being bullied at school. Not in direct fights, sure, but just showing that the out group is stronger than expected can be enough to deter such things.
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# ? Feb 21, 2024 17:37 |
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Chapter 21: The Mirrorquote:ALTHOUGH THE FOLK OF ISAV urged him to linger, Taran took leave of them and rode slowly back to Merin. The defeat of Dorath's Company held no savor, for his thoughts still turned restlessly; his questions still found no answers; and he was more downhearted than ever. To Annlaw he said little of his deeds in Isav, and it was Gurgi, bursting with pride, who told what had befallen them. What, you didn't think we'd seen the last of him, did you? quote:The man's face was stubble-bearded, his dirty yellow hair hung into his eyes. The horsehide jacket was slashed along one side and mud crusted his boots. In one hand he held food which he scooped up with his fingers and crammed into his mouth. He grinned at Taran. Well, there it is, folks. Taran is Taran, with all his experiences and faults and wisdom. This is the end of Book 4 - easily the best book in the series, if you ask me. An actually good coming of age story. I won't be able to post Wednesday, but we'll continue next Saturday with Book 5: The High King.
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# ? Feb 24, 2024 20:22 |
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It’s weird, Morda is the one that I remembered as the notable villain of this book, when it’s Dorath who’s responsible for so much of the conflicts which push Taran forward. I guess turning the main characters into animals counted for more to my kid mind.
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# ? Feb 24, 2024 21:39 |
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That is an excellent book, still holds up to my childhood memory. It's very difficult to write a principled, thoughtful book without being cloying, preachy, or didactic but Alexander did it well.
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# ? Feb 24, 2024 21:49 |
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The climax of the book was just the perfect encapsulation of it's themes in two great intertwined images. Of course you have Taran looking into the mirror and seeing only himself, the person he had grown to become over the course of his journey to find the mirror in the first place, but also the contrast with Dorath, a guy incapable of self reflection, who looks in the pool sees nothing because there's nothing to him as a person and then literally kicks the metaphor away because he's a shithead. And then of course you get the moment where blades finally cross and it's a literal blowout: Taran's pretty status symbol sword, the one he was given and didn't earn splinters to pieces in Dorath's hands against the strength of the ugly and unrefined sword Taran made for himself as the capstone to his journey of discovery. The High King has a very emotional and complete finale with its epilogue and the way it rounds out the whole series, but I don't any other book out of the five sticks the landing as perfectly as Taran Wanderer does.
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# ? Feb 24, 2024 23:07 |
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What really gets me is that I can read a line likeWahad posted:"That I have not," replied Annlaw. "For I well know who I am. Annlaw Clay-Shaper. For better or worse, that knowledge must serve me my lifetime." and think, even in my mid-thirties, "god, that's amazing, I wish I knew that about myself". The idea of just knowing who you are is so powerful and so compelling, but of course the entire point is that you have to figure it out for yourself and you literally cannot get this kind of internal validation from an external source - the most you can do is go on a journey and once you're in the right frame of mind, look into a reflective pool and be willing to see yourself. This book and that scene have stuck with me for years and years. I remember being absolutely gutted by The High King, so I'm so eager to see how that goes. I'm sure I'll say this again when you finish the fifth book, but thanks for posting these, Wahad. These are such good books and I hadn't though of them for well over a decade until you started the thread.
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 02:27 |
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For me it was this that stuck with me for all these years.quote:"What lacks?" he cried to Annlaw. "I could forge a sword well enough and weave a cloak well enough. But now, what I truly long to grasp is beyond my reach. Must the one skill I sought above all be denied me?" he burst out in an anguished voice. "Is the gift forbidden me?" He bowed his head, and his heart froze even as he spoke the words, for he knew, within himself, he had touched the truth. Annlaw did not gainsay him, but only looked at him for a long while with deep sadness. The parts with Llonio and in the Commot are so, so good. Rereading it, I expected each part would me much longer, they've stuck in my memory so well. Nine paths are offered to Taran, by my count:
King Enchanter Shepherd Gatherer Smith Weaver Potter Guard
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 03:47 |
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nine-gear crow posted:
Looking forward to The High King, it's the first book to make me cry (when I thought Eilonwy would be forced to leave Taran). Where the Red Fern Grows came very very close to taking that honor a few years earlier but I did the "don't blink" trick and kept those tears right in my eye sockets.
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 05:18 |
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Coca Koala posted:I'm sure I'll say this again when you finish the fifth book, but thanks for posting these, Wahad. These are such good books and I hadn't though of them for well over a decade until you started the thread. It’s not often you can go back to something you read as a child and find out that not only does it still hold up 30+ years later, it’s even better than you remembered it.
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 08:33 |
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I’ve seen this movie. Disney made it a few years ago. He’s the grandson of the evil emperor!
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 12:23 |
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silvergoose posted:It's pretty applicable for standing up for peers who are being bullied at school. Not in direct fights, sure, but just showing that the out group is stronger than expected can be enough to deter such things. That's a good point! Darthemed posted:It’s weird, Morda is the one that I remembered as the notable villain of this book, when it’s Dorath who’s responsible for so much of the conflicts which push Taran forward. How odd, for me I had forgotten Morda completely, whereas Dorath loomed large in my imagination. I remember how much I wanted Taran to have decisively beaten him in both their fights.
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# ? Feb 25, 2024 21:33 |
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Book 5: The High King Published in 1968, The High King is the fifth and final book in the Chronicles series. It won a Newbery Medal for "excellence in American Child Literature" in 1969. As you might expect, many lingering story-threads of the earlier books come to a head here; but following up on Taran Wanderer, the story is - well, I'll just let the writer explain it himself, one final time. Author's Note posted:DESPITE THEIR SHORTCOMINGS, no books have given me greater joy in the writing than the Chronicles of Prydain. I come sadly to the end of this journey, aware of the impossibility of commenting objectively on a work which has absorbed me so long and so personally. Well then. Shall we? Chapter 1: Homecomings. quote:UNDER A CHILL, GRAY SKY, two riders jogged across the turf. Taran, the taller horseman, set his face against wind and leaned forward in the saddle, his eyes on the distant hills. At his belt hung a sword, and from his shoulder a silver-bound battle horn. His companion Gurgi, shaggier than the pony he rode, pulled his weathered cloak around him, rubbed his frost-nipped ears, and began groaning so wretchedly that Taran at last reined up the stallion. Home at last. quote:FROM THE INSTANT Taran set foot across the threshold, such a commotion filled the cottage that he scarcely knew which way to turn. Kaw had immediately begun jabbering and flapping his wings; Coll, whose great bald crown and broad face shone with delight, was clapping Taran on the back; while Gurgi shouted in glee and leaped up and down in a cloud of shedding hair. Even the ancient enchanter Dallben, who seldom let anything disturb his meditations, hobbled out of his chamber to observe the welcomings. In the midst of it all, Taran could hardly glimpse Eilonwy, though he heard the voice of the Princess very clearly above the din. It's Rhun! And Glew! Remember these guys? quote:"But three of our companions are missing," Taran said, glancing around the cottage. "Good old Doli, and Fflewddur Fflam. And I had hoped Prince Gwydion might have come to welcome Eilonwy." Well, shoot. So much for happy reunions. quote:Blood crusted the warrior's wolf-gray hair and stained his weathered face. His lips were drawn back, his teeth set in battle rage. Gwydion's cloak muffled one arm as though at the last he had sought to defend himself with this alone. Dallben does like taking in strays, doesn't he? A stray orphan, a stray princess, a stray gurgi - and now a stray evil (?) sorceress. Wahad fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Mar 2, 2024 |
# ? Mar 2, 2024 19:03 |
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I'm still disappointed to this day that we didn't get more of Achren being "part of the group". We get a bit of it in The High King, but not enough to really pay off the premise of the most feared sorceress in the land getting reduced to a level 1 black mage and having to live with and work for the heroes just in order to survive. Like gently caress bringing Glew back, he sucks, Achren would have been much better suited to the role of "the party member who hates everyone and thinks they're all stupid assholes" and unlike Glew she has actual useful abilities and knowledge. But alas. nine-gear crow fucked around with this message at 19:33 on Mar 2, 2024 |
# ? Mar 2, 2024 19:30 |
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WOW you would not be so rude to Glew if he were still a giant, honestly getting made small was a very serious mistake and frankly it’s pretty hosed up that they did glew dirty like that
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# ? Mar 3, 2024 03:25 |
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Chapter 2: The Letter Sticksquote:TARAN COULD NOT STIFLE a gasp of fear.The black robed woman glanced at him coldly. He's alive! Also, some Achren lore. Former supreme evil! Betrayed by her number two. Now a scullery maid. How the mighty have fallen. quote:IN DALLBEN'S CHAMBER the Prince of Don half-raised himself from the couch. His features were pale under their weathering, and tightly drawn, though more in anger than pain. His mouth was set, bitter, his green eyes burned with dark flashes, and his glance was that of a proud wolf scornful of his hurt, and scornful all the more of those who had given him his wounds. Achren was a silent shadow in the corner. The old enchanter stood anxiously beside the book-strewn table near the wooden bench where Taran, throughout boyhood, had sat for lessons. The Book of Three, the huge, leather-bound tome of secret lore forbidden to all but Dallben himself, lay closed atop a pile of other ancient volumes. Taran, with Eilonwy, Fflewddur, and King Rhun behind him, strode to Gwydion and clasped the warrior's hand. The Prince of Don smiled grimly. Piggy prophecy! quote:FROM HER ENCLOSURE the white pig watched the silent procession. On his bony shoulders Dallben bore the letter sticks, the ashwood rods carved with ancient symbols. Glew, interested only in the provisions of the scullery, remained behind, as did Gurgi, who well remembered the former giant and chose to keep an eye on him. Achren had spoken no further, but hooded her face and sat motionless in the cottage. Usually, at the sight of Taran, the oracular pig would squeal joyously and trot to the railing to have, her chin scratched. Now she cowered in a far corner of the pen, her little eyes wide and her cheeks trembling. As Dallben entered the enclosure and planted the letter sticks upright in the earth, Hen Wen snuffled and crouched closer against the bars. Dallben, murmuring inaudibly, moved to stand beside the ash-wood rods. Outside the enclosure, the companions waited. Hen Wen whimpered and did not stir. Hey, who saw that one coming?
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# ? Mar 6, 2024 17:15 |
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Chapter 3: The Prophecyquote:THE COMPANIONS HASTENED to the stable. As Gurgi had told them, one of King Rhun's horses was missing. Of Achren, there was no trace. Well, things are off to a gloomy start, aren't they? quote:It had been agreed that when the travelers neared Great Avren, King Rhun would escort the disgruntled Glew to the ship anchored in the river, there to await his return, for Rhun was determined to ride with Gwydion to Caer Cadarn. Glew liked neither cooling his heels on the swaying vessel nor sleeping on the hard pebbles of the shore; but the protests of the former giant could not move the King of Mona to change his plan. While Gwydion held a last, hurried council with Dallben, the companions began leading the horses from the stable. The wise Melyngar, Gwydion's white, golden-maned steed, waited calmly for her master. Melynlas, Taran's stallion, snorted and impatiently pawed the ground. Eilonwy was already mounted on her favorite, the bay mare Lluagor. In a fold of her cloak the Princess carried her most treasured possession: the golden sphere that glowed brightly when she cupped it in her hands. Looks like our Tiny Giant has a bit of courage after all. If only for treasure.
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# ? Mar 9, 2024 18:28 |
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It's pretty big of Glew to put himself in harm's way like this, not gonna lie.
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# ? Mar 10, 2024 00:57 |
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Definitely some foreshadowing scattered about in these opening chapters!
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# ? Mar 10, 2024 21:08 |
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Yesss. This was my favorite of the books as a kid. I'm excited to see how it holds up. (Probably quite well given the rest of the series, and Taran Wanderer is much much better than I used to think. )
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# ? Mar 11, 2024 14:29 |
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Chapter 4: King Smoit's Castlequote:AT DAWN, KING RHUN made ready to part from the companions and ride farther westward to Avren Harbor, where he would advise his shipmaster of the change in plans. Fflewddur was to accompany him, for the bard knew the shallow fording places across the river and the swiftest paths on the opposite bank. Taran's learned something after all. quote:AT MID-MORNING OF the following day, Caer Cadarn rose before them, and from a stone tower Smoit's crimson banner with its emblem of a black bear snapped in the wind. The stronghold had been built in a clearing, and the heavy walls jutted like the bearded King's own brows, scarred and pitted by many a battle. Coll, urging Llamrei ahead, shouted to the guards in the name of Gwydion Prince of Don. The massive gates opened and the companions galloped into the courtyard, where men-at-arms tethered the horses and a party of warriors led the way to Smoit's Great Hall. Gwydion strode quickly down the corridor. Flanked by the guards, Taran, Coll, and Gurgi followed. Uh oh. Who remembers this guy, huh? quote:Guards fell upon them instantly. Taran's sword was ripped from his belt. With a great cry, Gwydion flung himself against the warriors, but they pressed about him and bore the Prince of Don to his knees. Coll, too, was borne down and a spear pressed against his back. Gurgi yelled in rage and terror. A guard seized him by the scruff of his shaggy neck, buffeting him until the poor creature could barely stagger to his feet. Magg grinned like a skull. With a slight movement of his skinny fingers, he gestured the warriors to stand away. His gray, pinched face twitched with pleasure. Good to see Smoit's holding up well, despite the circumstance.
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# ? Mar 13, 2024 18:17 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 4: King Smoit's Castle Smoit abolished incarceration because Taran rightly pointed out it was stupid. What an absolute chad. Best king, based king.
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# ? Mar 13, 2024 18:25 |
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Magg, you snivelling snake in the grass!
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# ? Mar 14, 2024 00:07 |
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Chapter 5: The Watcherquote:ALTHOUGH FFLEWDDUR FFLAM quickly led Eilonwy, King Rhun, and Glew to Avren Harbor, their return from the ship was less rapid. First, the King of Mona managed, against all likelihood, to tumble over his horse's neck when the dapple gray halted to drink at the riverbank. The ducking thoroughly soaked the unlucky King but did not dampen his spirits. However, Rhun's sword belt had come undone and the blade had sunk in the shallows. Rhun being unable to fish it out again because he had also got himself tangled in the steed's harness, Fflewddur was obliged to plunge into the river for the weapon. Glew now protested, bitterly against riding behind the sopping bard. Never let it be said a Fflam isn't brave! quote:BY NIGHTFALL THE GIRL had grown seriously alarmed, for there had been no further sign from the bard. The companions had concealed themselves in a thicket, awaiting Fflewddur's return, but now Eilonwy rose and anxiously faced the castle. Hey, it's that guy! quote:The bard loosened his grasp. Gwystyl sat up, rubbed his skinny arms, then climbed to his feet and pulled his cloak defensively about him. Anybody else notice it's the first chapter in the entire series without Taran in it?
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# ? Mar 16, 2024 17:35 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 5: The Watcher
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# ? Mar 16, 2024 19:45 |
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Chapter 6: A Clutch of Eggsquote:"AMAZING!" CRIED KING RHUN. "Smoke made of egg! Or is it egg made of smoke?" Well, at least Fflewddur's excited about the whole thing. Leave it to a bard to look on the bright side, I suppose. Those faerie tricks are pretty useful, though. quote:THE COMPANIONS HURRIEDLY returned to the cover of the thicket to set their plans. Gwystyl, after much coaxing and cajoling, as well as hints of further squeezing and suggestions of King Eiddileg's displeasure, at last agreed--- with many a racking sigh and moan--- to help in the rescue. The bard was eager to begin immediately. Chin up Rhun, you'll get your share of glory yet. quote:IT WAS NEARLY DAWN and bitter cold when the little band left the concealment of the thicket and moved stealthily toward the lightless castle. Each carried a share of Gwystyl's mushrooms and eggs, and a packet of his black, loamy powder. Making a wide circle, they now approached Caer Cadarn from its darkest, most shadowed side. No plan survives contact with the enemy, as they say.
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# ? Mar 20, 2024 15:48 |
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Chapter 7: The King of Monaquote:IN THE LARDER WHICH had become a prison, Gurgi was first to hear the shouts of alarm. Though muffled by the heavy walls, the cries brought him to his feet before the other companions were aware of the tumult beyond their cell. All night, fearing the arrival of Magg from one moment to the next, they had vainly sought escape. Exhausted from their efforts, they dozed fitfully by turns; hoping only to sell their lives dearly when the guards at last came for them. And here we see the stakes of this final tale in Taran's saga. Rest well, King Rhun. quote:SILENT AND HEAVY HEARTED, the companions raised a burial mound a little distance from Caer Cadarn. The warriors of Smoit joined them; and at dusk, horsemen bearing torches rode slowly circling the mound, to honor the King of Mona. As the last flame died, Taran came to stand before the burial place. To war! quote:WELL BEFORE DAWN Gwydion and Fflewddur Fflam rode from Caer Cadarn, each to follow his separate path. King Smoit, girded for battle, set out from the castle, and with him went Lord Gast and Lord Goryon, who had learned belatedly of the attack on their king and now hastened to join him. Faced with the common danger, the two rivals had put aside their quarrel. Goryon declined to take insult at Gast's every word, Gast refrained from giving offense to Goryon, and neither so much as mentioned cows. That same morning a gnarled, gray-headed farmer strode up to Taran in the castle courtyard. It was Aeddan, who had befriended him long before in Smoit's cantrev. The two clasped hands warmly, but the farmer's face was grim. Back to the Free Commots we go! Let's see who's ready for a fight.
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# ? Mar 23, 2024 19:23 |
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The turnaround with Rhun from bumbling plot contrivance to a character you feel legitimately sad over dying is one of those great triumphs of character work this series is known for. Guy deserved a better fate, but he at least died a hero. He will not be the last...
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# ? Mar 23, 2024 19:54 |
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Desperate for the next chapters! I do feel like "A Smoit!" may not be the most ferocious or intimidating of warcries though.
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# ? Mar 23, 2024 21:21 |
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regulargonzalez posted:Desperate for the next chapters! There's a reason "Smoit" sounds like Yinzer saying "Smite"
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# ? Mar 23, 2024 21:37 |
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We spent all last book hearing about the horrors of battle and what it leaves behind, and yet it's still so unexpected when the costs show up here.
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# ? Mar 24, 2024 03:51 |
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I’m wondering who would have taken over Rhun’s kingdom. He was an only child IIRC, and obviously wasn’t married/have any kids. I’m guessing his mother would end up in charge until she dies, but after that..?
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# ? Mar 25, 2024 19:22 |
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Hemp Knight posted:I’m wondering who would have taken over Rhun’s kingdom. He was an only child IIRC, and obviously wasn’t married/have any kids. I’m guessing his mother would end up in charge until she dies, but after that..? All hail king Glew!
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# ? Mar 25, 2024 20:23 |
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Comrade Koba posted:All hail king Glew! I feel incredibly bad for the 20 people who lived on Mona to begin with.
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# ? Mar 25, 2024 20:30 |
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I struggle not to imagine Taran, Prince Gwydion etc as gritty dark age warriors with calloused hands and weatherbeaten faces. Then there's Rhum stood next to them in breeches, silk stockings, silver-buckled shoes and a beautifully tailored red overcoat covered in gold embroidery.
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# ? Mar 26, 2024 16:16 |
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Pistol_Pete posted:I struggle not to imagine Taran, Prince Gwydion etc as gritty dark age warriors with calloused hands and weatherbeaten faces. Basically just any picture of Geralt and Jaskier standing next to each other from any incarnation of The Witcher.
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# ? Mar 26, 2024 17:35 |
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Chapter 8: The Messengersquote:FROM THE MOMENT HE LEFT Caer Dallben, Kaw had flown directly toward Annuvin. Though it was the bird's pleasure, aloft, to revel in the limitless reaches of the sky, to swoop and soar above the white sheep flocks of clouds, he now put aside all temptation to sport with the wind and held steadily to his course. Far below, Avren glinted like a long trickle of molten silver; fallow fields spread in patches; the treetops rose black and leafless, broken by dark green stretches of pine forest following the curves of the hills. Kaw pressed ever northwestward, resting seldom during the hours of daylight. Only at dusk, when even the crow's keen eyes could not search beyond the gathering shadows, did he drop to earth and find haven among the branches of a tree. Kaw's a smart bird, but gwythaints are pretty vicious. quote:[HIS FLIGHT WAS NOW a constant torment. Often his wings faltered and only the wind-tides held him aloft. He could no longer travel a full day's distance. Long before sundown, his wound forced him to alight and hide himself amid the trees. Nor could he fly closer to the sun's warmth, but made his way only a little above the ground, nearly brushing the treetops. Below him, the countryside was springing to life with warriors, both on horseback and afoot. During the times he halted to husband his strength, he learned their destination, like that of the Huntsmen, was thefortress of the Sons of Don. His alarm grew sharper than his pain and he flew onward. Farewell, Kaw? quote:WHEN HE OPENED his eyes again, he lay upon a soft nest of rushes in a sunny chamber. He was weak, but his pain had left him; his wound had been bound up. As he feebly fluttered his wings, a pair of strong hands deftly reached to hold and calm him. Well, looks like Medwyn's in. And...nature?
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# ? Mar 27, 2024 17:14 |
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Wahad posted:Chapter 8: The Messengers Eywa has spoken! Or Tom Bombadil?
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# ? Mar 27, 2024 21:48 |
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# ? May 15, 2024 04:34 |
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Noah? Is that you?
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# ? Mar 27, 2024 23:24 |