[theocean]

Tried to get as many acronyms As I could.... would rake have feared the Crimson guard or was the threat more to do with the alliance or contract they had going with brood and rake.

I'm guessing it was cowl that told serrat that her lords anger would be in vain. And he knows who sends the message. So could the CG have taken on the tiste with rake at the helm?

[D'iversify]

CG is a confusing acronym as could be interpreted as meaning 'Crippled God' (what i first read it as).

[Aptorian]

It's complicated, yes. Mainly because the CGs work for Caladan Brood who is the only other player on Genebackis who can oppose Anomander Rake.

But just to be clear in terms of power and skill, Rake wielding Dragnipur would chew his way through pretty much anything and make it look simple. Be it a high mage or an elite company.

This post has been edited by Apt: 14 September 2014 - 08:12 PM

[theocean]

Yea CG is a double acronym in the series. Slipped my mind till I just opened my own thread.
I was thinking more the alliance but the way it was said made it seem more of a threat on him. Had me wondering if I was under valuing the guard.

[Andorion]

In spite of Rake's clear power/dominance, Cowl at least had been a problem for Rake. Refer Toll the Hounds naturally slight SPOILERS FOR TOLL THE HOUNDS

Quote

Spinnock could well recall the last few times he had been witness to the dragon unleashed. Flames ripping through the forest that was Mott Wood, crashing down in a deluge, with a deafening concussion that drowned out every death-cry as countless unseen creatures died. Among them, perhaps a handful of Crimson Guard, a dozen or so Mott Irregulars. Like using an axe to kill ants.
Then, from the very heart of that fiery maelstrom, virulent sorcery lashed out, striking Silanah in a coruscating wave. Thunder hammering the air, the dragon’s scream of pain. The enormous beast writhing, slashing her way free, then, trailing ropes of blood, flying back towards Moon’s Spawn.
He recalled Anomander Rake’s rage, and how he could hold it in his eyes like a demon chained to his will, even as he stood motionless, even as he spoke in a calm, almost bored tone. A single word, a name.
Cowl. And with that name, oh, how the rage flared in those draconean eyes.
There had begun, then, a hunt. The kind only a fool would choose to join. Rake, seeking out the deadliest wizard among the Crimson Guard. At one point, Spinnock remembered standing on the high ledge on the face of Moon’s Spawn, watching the mage-storms fill half the northern night sky. Flashes, the knight charge of thunder through a smoke-wreathed sky. He had wondered, then, if the world was on the very edge of being torn apart, and from the depths of his soul had risen a twisted, malignant thought. Again . . .
When great powers strode on to the field of battle, things had a way of getting out of hand.
Had it been Cowl who first blinked? Bowing out, yielding ground, fleeing?
Or had it been the Son of Darkness?
Spinnock doubted he would ever find out. Such questions were not asked of Anomander Rake. Some time later, it was discovered by the Tiste Andii, Cowl had resurfaced, this time in Darujhistan. Causing more trouble. His stay there had been blessedly brief.

Clearly the fight between Cowl and Rake was not decisive, as the above incident happened before GotM. Note, Rake was angry, maybe even killing angry but Cowl survived.

[theocean]

Andorion, on 15 September 2014 - 01:27 AM, said:

In spite of Rake's clear power/dominance, Cowl at least had been a problem for Rake. Refer Toll the Hounds naturally slight SPOILERS FOR TOLL THE HOUNDS

Quote

Spinnock could well recall the last few times he had been witness to the dragon unleashed. Flames ripping through the forest that was Mott Wood, crashing down in a deluge, with a deafening concussion that drowned out every death-cry as countless unseen creatures died. Among them, perhaps a handful of Crimson Guard, a dozen or so Mott Irregulars. Like using an axe to kill ants.
Then, from the very heart of that fiery maelstrom, virulent sorcery lashed out, striking Silanah in a coruscating wave. Thunder hammering the air, the dragon's scream of pain. The enormous beast writhing, slashing her way free, then, trailing ropes of blood, flying back towards Moon's Spawn.
He recalled Anomander Rake's rage, and how he could hold it in his eyes like a demon chained to his will, even as he stood motionless, even as he spoke in a calm, almost bored tone. A single word, a name.
Cowl. And with that name, oh, how the rage flared in those draconean eyes.
There had begun, then, a hunt. The kind only a fool would choose to join. Rake, seeking out the deadliest wizard among the Crimson Guard. At one point, Spinnock remembered standing on the high ledge on the face of Moon's Spawn, watching the mage-storms fill half the northern night sky. Flashes, the knight charge of thunder through a smoke-wreathed sky. He had wondered, then, if the world was on the very edge of being torn apart, and from the depths of his soul had risen a twisted, malignant thought. Again . . .
When great powers strode on to the field of battle, things had a way of getting out of hand.
Had it been Cowl who first blinked? Bowing out, yielding ground, fleeing?
Or had it been the Son of Darkness?
Spinnock doubted he would ever find out. Such questions were not asked of Anomander Rake. Some time later, it was discovered by the Tiste Andii, Cowl had resurfaced, this time in Darujhistan. Causing more trouble. His stay there had been blessedly brief.

Clearly the fight between Cowl and Rake was not decisive, as the above incident happened before GotM. Note, Rake was angry, maybe even killing angry but Cowl survived.

Thanks man... I wish i knew how important or capable the crimson guard was prior to reading so much of the series. I knew Cowl was a crazy beast i didnt know he would be able to withstand the SOD himself. I guess i just looked right over the hints the the Crimson was a group of beasts. Never really remembered much of them prior to Bars in Lether the first read through. Great paragraph though.

[Andorion]

theocean, on 15 September 2014 - 12:34 PM, said:

Andorion, on 15 September 2014 - 01:27 AM, said:

In spite of Rake's clear power/dominance, Cowl at least had been a problem for Rake. Refer Toll the Hounds naturally slight SPOILERS FOR TOLL THE HOUNDS

Quote

Spinnock could well recall the last few times he had been witness to the dragon unleashed. Flames ripping through the forest that was Mott Wood, crashing down in a deluge, with a deafening concussion that drowned out every death-cry as countless unseen creatures died. Among them, perhaps a handful of Crimson Guard, a dozen or so Mott Irregulars. Like using an axe to kill ants.
Then, from the very heart of that fiery maelstrom, virulent sorcery lashed out, striking Silanah in a coruscating wave. Thunder hammering the air, the dragon's scream of pain. The enormous beast writhing, slashing her way free, then, trailing ropes of blood, flying back towards Moon's Spawn.
He recalled Anomander Rake's rage, and how he could hold it in his eyes like a demon chained to his will, even as he stood motionless, even as he spoke in a calm, almost bored tone. A single word, a name.
Cowl. And with that name, oh, how the rage flared in those draconean eyes.
There had begun, then, a hunt. The kind only a fool would choose to join. Rake, seeking out the deadliest wizard among the Crimson Guard. At one point, Spinnock remembered standing on the high ledge on the face of Moon's Spawn, watching the mage-storms fill half the northern night sky. Flashes, the knight charge of thunder through a smoke-wreathed sky. He had wondered, then, if the world was on the very edge of being torn apart, and from the depths of his soul had risen a twisted, malignant thought. Again . . .
When great powers strode on to the field of battle, things had a way of getting out of hand.
Had it been Cowl who first blinked? Bowing out, yielding ground, fleeing?
Or had it been the Son of Darkness?
Spinnock doubted he would ever find out. Such questions were not asked of Anomander Rake. Some time later, it was discovered by the Tiste Andii, Cowl had resurfaced, this time in Darujhistan. Causing more trouble. His stay there had been blessedly brief.

Clearly the fight between Cowl and Rake was not decisive, as the above incident happened before GotM. Note, Rake was angry, maybe even killing angry but Cowl survived.

Thanks man... I wish i knew how important or capable the crimson guard was prior to reading so much of the series. I knew Cowl was a crazy beast i didnt know he would be able to withstand the SOD himself. I guess i just looked right over the hints the the Crimson was a group of beasts. Never really remembered much of them prior to Bars in Lether the first read through. Great paragraph though.

I had a vague idea bout how badass the Guard was when I was reading GotM:

Quote

The Coin Bearer came to a street lined with walled estates. He slowed his pace, studying each structure he passed.
The time had come, the Adjunct knew. Before the boy had a chance to get inside one of those places, where he might find protection. She adjusted her grip on the sword, padding in silence not fifteen feet behind him.
She drew a long, deep breath, then surged forward, sword's point extended.

At the sharp, ringing clang of metal immediately behind him, Crokus dived forward. He dipped a shoulder and rolled, regaining his feet. He cried out in shock. The woman who had attacked Coll in the hills was in a whirlwind exchange with a tall, round-shouldered man with two scimitars.
The thief's jaw dropped as he watched the fight. As good as the woman had shown herself against Coll, she was now being driven back as a flurry of attacks swept around her. They both moved so quickly that Crokus could not even see the parries, or the blades themselves, but as he watched, he saw the blossoming of wounds on the woman – her arms, legs, chest. Her expression held complete disbelief.
Then a voice chuckled beside him, 'He's good, ain't he?'
Crokus whirled to see a tall, thin man, wearing a grey and crimson longcoat, his hands in its pockets. He swung a narrow hatchet face to the thief and grinned. 'You headin' somewhere, boy? Somewhere safe?'
Crokus nodded numbly.
The man's grin widened. 'I'll escort you, then. And don't worry, you're covered from the roofs, too. Cowl's up there, damn his snakeskin hide. But he's a powerful mage, anyway. Serrat was furious, I hear. Let's walk, then.'
Crokus let the man take his arm and lead him away from the duel. The thief cast a glance over his shoulder. The woman was trying to disengage now, her left arm hanging useless and glistening in the gaslight. Her opponent continued pressing, silent as a ghost.
'Don't worry,' the man beside him said, pulling him along. 'That's Corporal Blues. He lives for this stuff.'
'C-Corporal?'
'We've been covering your back, Coin Bearer.' The man's other hand reached up to his collar, which he turned back to reveal a brooch. 'The name's Fingers, Sixth Blade, Crimson Guard. You're being protected, boy, compliments of Prince K'azz and Caladan Brood.'
Crokus stared, then he scowled. 'Coin Bearer? What's that mean? I think you've got the wrong person.'
Fingers laughed drily. 'We figured you was walking blind and dumb, boy. The only explanation. You've got other people trying to protect you, too, you know. There's a coin in your pocket, probably two-headed, right?' He grinned at the thief's stunned expression. 'It's Oponn's own. You've been serving a god and you didn't even know it! How's your luck been, lately?' He laughed again.
Crokus stopped at a gate.
'This is the place, then?' Fingers asked, glancing at the estate rising behind the compound wall. 'Well, there's a powerful mage living in there, ain't there? Well,' he released the thief's arm, 'you should be safe enough inside. Good luck, boy, and I mean that. But listen,' Fingers' eyes hardened, 'if your luck goes sour, you dump that coin, y' hear?'
Confusion flickered across Crokus's face. 'Thank you, sir.'
'Our pleasure,' Fingers said, as he placed his hands in his pockets again. 'Get a move on, then.'

The Adjunct broke away, taking a cut across her right shoulder blade as she did so. She ran, blood spraying with the effort, and the man did not pursue.
What a fool she'd been! Thinking that the Coin Bearer wasn't protected! But who was that man? Never before had she faced such a swordsman, and the most appalling thing was that he had fought without the aid of sorcery. For once, her Otataral blade and her skill had not been enough.

Its a real pity Blues never had a good swordfight later. You find Cowl referenced as a powerful mage again, and there is also the scene where the CG foil the Tiste Andii assasin-mages.

[theocean]

Yea but I didn't have any clue who they were. No idea about the avowed. They were just some merc group till the last few chapters in gotm. Even then it's vague.

This post has been edited by theocean: 15 September 2014 - 04:31 PM