tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post2703631696888664506..comments2023-05-17T05:51:40.714-04:00Comments on Coffee, Cookies and Chili Peppers: Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan: Week 7Looks-Mostly-Harmlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00918651503213054373noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-29578880524209747522014-07-08T09:15:08.148-04:002014-07-08T09:15:08.148-04:005. Yes, with the benefit of hindsight, I think Tai...5. Yes, with the benefit of hindsight, I think Taim's influence went too far when Rand took him to that farm all the way back in book 6. The Black Tower is in some serious need of saving, but it might already be too late.<br /><br />I don't think this was Logain "finally deciding" to warn Rand. He just got permission to take over the recruitment parties in the prologue, and I think he went straight after Rand the moment he could. He's a hard man to find, after all, and so I think this was just as soon as Logain could manage.<br /><br />6. Elza was revealed as Black Ajah during the cleansing, actually. So no, I can't say I was surprised (although I was, then). As for her warder murdering people, I really have no memory of this.<br /><br />7. So Habor (not Harbor) :). This is often used as an example of the plot slowdown: the joy of reading about Perrin going grocery shopping. Myself, I thought So Habor was delightfully creepy, and the image of a sack of grain crawling with maggots is the most significant proof we have so far that the Dark One is definitely influencing things. All the previous comments about spoiling food (yes, there have been some) are now clear. Together with the supernatural effects, this is something you'll see more of.<br /><br />Then again, I could have done without chapter 25 ("When to Wear Jewels"), which was perhaps the most void chapter I've seen so far.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109803991051330140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-8829764913207319542014-07-08T09:14:56.553-04:002014-07-08T09:14:56.553-04:00Hey, sorry for being a bit late this week!
1. I a...Hey, sorry for being a bit late this week!<br /><br />1. I am not sure if Elaida really believes that Alviarin is a darkfriend. When she set Seaine to hunt what she called "traitors" I think she had just that in mind: find some dirt, whatever it is, on Alviarin. Perhaps she has asked Seaine for an update and was told that the search is progressing, and that is why she now has the guts to go against her. I don't think she knows that Seaine is doing something totally different than what she thinks, and it's a fortunate coincidence for Elaida that Alviarin really IS a darkfriend, so Elaida's threat became more credible than it should have been.<br /><br />As for Alviarin, I'm really not sure. I doubt her mark will help in that regard.<br /><br />2. I'm not sure what Elaida would do if she heard, but I doubt she would have thought of this on her own. She has foretold that the Black Tower will be devastated and that sisters will walk its grounds, and she has fixated upon her own interpretation of this. If I know Elaida half as well as I think I do, I doubt that interpretation involves bonding warders. So I guess she would stop it if she could, not necessarily because it's a bad idea, but because she thinks the future must be different.<br /><br />3. Knowing what we know about Verin (she can apparently lie and has no compunction for compulsion), it would seem that Cadsuane's distrust is well founded, even if she herself probably has other reasons. Then again, Verin appears to be working fully for the good guys.<br /><br />I wish you guys knew how hard it to not spill the beans on her. :(<br /><br />4. Ogier are like Ents in more ways than one. I belive they would rather be left alone and not interfere with the outside world unless absolutely necessary. Certainly the Ways make them uneasy, for good reasons! So no, I'm not entirely surprised. I can only hope they come to their senses and that Ogier neglect is not what will bring about the downfall.<br /><br />The Ogier have an artifact called the Book of Translation, which they use to travel between worlds. (This is not 100% explained in the main series.) They used it at one point in the Age of Legends, or perhaps before, to enter this world, and they will leave at one point. This must be the case because if we accept that history is cyclic and that our own world is a different age (of which there are many hints), then the Ogier must one day leave because there aren't any around right now. In any case, they stayed put during all the hardships of the Breaking, the Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years, each time debating whether to open the Book of Translation and leave, and each time rejecting the notion and helping humanity out instead. One may assume they will have a similar discussion this time.<br /><br />(The same cyclic history argument lies behind the theory that the One Power will eventually go away only to return at some point. Actually, one of my own pet theories was that at the end of the series, the One Power vanishes. This would also solve the Seanchan problem, since they presumably have no reason or ability to enslave damane if they can't channel.)<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17109803991051330140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-40937929117159342222014-07-07T11:37:23.216-04:002014-07-07T11:37:23.216-04:00Yep, Alviarin was pretty shaken up with her visit ...Yep, Alviarin was pretty shaken up with her visit with Mesaana and Shaidar Haran (who said something about being the Dark One - which I don't quite understand yet). Her snooping and subterfuge skills probably won't be so keen for at least several weeks. :)<br /><br />Verin is such an interesting character simply because we don't know where she really stands. She hasn't done anything outright (that we know of) to go against Rand or the Light, and yet....compulsion, lying, the fascination with knowledge.....<br /><br />I fear we will come upon Ogier Darkfriends. Of course, this could be the thing that rouses the others to join the fight. <br /><br />Total agreement on the Ogier wedding bed!<br /><br />A Warder with a taste for murder, and perhaps for torture, etc. *shivers*<br /><br />Why hasn't plague hit Harbor? I mean they aren't washing, throwing out the trash, eating healthy food. So while they are miserable and dirty, no plague has struck. Hmmm...one more odd thing about the city to ponder. nrlymrtlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00572346310916207565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3936635192759786622.post-30780489963635274782014-07-06T19:14:28.863-04:002014-07-06T19:14:28.863-04:00Yeah, I think everyone has trouble sympathizing wi...Yeah, I think everyone has trouble sympathizing with Alviarin and Mesaana. Or Elaida for that matter. You aren't alone there. Loial + Erith = Loyith? Eral? Whatcha think? :D <br /><a href="http://musingsonfantasia.blogspot.com/2014/07/crossroads-of-twilight-week-7.html" rel="nofollow">My WoT Post</a>Liesel K. Hillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03860816358217211833noreply@blogger.com