[Cain]

Ok, I re-read this part over and over again. Can anyone else figure out why Rake didn't just man-handle everyone and take her to be mind-read anyways? Im sure he wasn't THAT scared of Paran, and he wasn't quite friends with WJ yet.

Also, IMO this is one of the best scenes in the entire series.

[Optimus Prime]

If you recall, Rake probes Silverfox and remarks how he hasn't "had his hand slapped" like that in a loooooooooooooong time.....he then moves to draw his sword but realizes what a potentially volatile situation he's in and restrains himself...pretty simple...Rake is powerful but he can't take out everybody in that meeting....Brood by himself would give him trouble apparently...throw in Silverfox's yet unknown power and the fact that Tayschrenn was hiding around there too.....

[Aptorian]

Rake didn't know Tay was there. I think the only stopping him was Brood... that and caution.

Not only might Brood be able to at least put up a real fight, but Rake didn't want the wielder of Burns Hammer to die. He trusts Brood. If Brood dies, what then with the hammer? Would he have to carry that around aswell? He might not even be able to use it because he doesn't have the warren.

[Optimus Prime]

I'm not so sure Rake didn't know Tay was there...but that's another thread completely.

Rake's a smart guy. As powerful as he is, you still don't live hundreds of thousands of years jumping into anything and slicing people up on a whim. That was a powder keg ready to blow, and Rake chose not to light the match.

[Dancer+]

I completely agree with Xander.

Rake didn't have anything to gain from starting a Conflagration there. He decided to err on the side of caution, and reconsider his initial line of thought. He couldn't have handled everyone there. I'm not sure because of lack of familiarity with the scene but wasn't Brood, Tayschrenn, Quick Ben, Paran and Silverfox (Nightchill, Belurdan and Tattersail) and other sympathisers there? Although Kallor would have potentially became involved too.

[Aptorian]

Yes, but you're determining that Rake couldn't have handled all of them right there, based on what we know then and what we know now.

Rake lands in the camp with out knowing half of the players in the scene. He knows Brood and Kallor(one of which is sidding with him) but he doesn't know what Tattersail can do and he's not aware that two of the empires strongest mages Quick and Tay are standing right next to him. Would he recognize Dassem Ultor/Dessembrae if he had been standing right next to him? I don't think so...

EDIT: well, ok maybe if they had met at the chaining.

But I think Rake's decision is based on Brood stepping in between and Kruppe diversion at the very same moment, releaving the tension. Remember how everyone takes a breath and steppes back. Right then and there caution had taken a backseat.

[Dancer+]

I agree with your last point heavily, that contributed to alleviate the whole situation. I was stating that Rake didn't want to be imprudent, and become reckless. I personally don't believe Rake could have taken on the whole camp even without many of the big name players, there were Bridgeburners/Malazans there. Cussers, anyone? Rake knew he couldn't just Dragnipur Silverfox infront of everyone, plus he was unsure of certain things (if I remember correctly).

Anyway this is besides the point, there would not have been a huge fight in my mind. Someone would have restrained the situation before it happened, as happened.

[Ammanas]

Dancer;313766 said:

I agree with your last point heavily, that contributed to alleviate the whole situation. I was stating that Rake didn't want to be imprudent, and become reckless. I personally don't believe Rake could have taken on the whole camp even without many of the big name players, there were Bridgeburners/Malazans there. Cussers, anyone? Rake knew he couldn't just Dragnipur Silverfox infront of everyone, plus he was unsure of certain things (if I remember correctly).

Anyway this is besides the point, there would not have been a huge fight in my mind. Someone would have restrained the situation before it happened, as happened.

I thought Rake even told Kallor "You risk too much on a single cast" )of the die. Meaning attempting to kill SFox and failing would be bad as you would have undoubtedly made a very powerful enemy AND alienated people such as WJ/Dujek who would have perceived the attack as child slaughter.

[Cain]

Meh. He had alot of his Tiste Andii there too. Im fairly certain he was not scared of a fight, maybe just suprised Brood said something too.

[Ammanas]

Cain;314569 said:

Meh. He had alot of his Tiste Andii there too. Im fairly certain he was not scared of a fight, maybe just suprised Brood said something too.

Who said he was scared--He took a stance and noticed only Kallor was on his side. What kind of psychopathic idiot wants Kallor on their side? Rake prolly could have won the fight...I could beat down the kids across the street, too. But I don't want to. Ability does not equal intent.

Again, there are no black and white characters in this series. Kallor, to my mind, is the closest thing to a traditional villain. He killed millions just out of insecurity or something. Rake is actually slow to fight but once he commits it usually means a dirt nap for the opponent.

[Saccian]

I agree with everyone here. Rake was being cautious. I'm sure he was thinking to himself: With great power comes great responsibility.

[eekwibble]

I LOVE that scene!
Silverfox slapping Rake's power off herself and revealing her own "power, twisting like taut ropes, rose around her, knotting, bunching". Everything stopping as Rake goes for Dragnipur "As though the world were taking a breath". Then Paran stepping out of nowhere right in front of him, the table flying out of the tent with Kruppe attached to a leg and Quick arriving to see it all just in time.
One of the most exciting scenes if only for the potential mayhem.
It's Quick that changes Rake's mind though, advising prudence in the face of unexplained developments, a stance that impresses Rake hence his interest in Quick and consequent meeting with Whiskeyjack where we learn of the birth of the Bridgeburners.

[silentblade]

i am new to this so be kind of lenient if i ask dumb questions, has any one heard of when steve is going to bring back wj or any of the others that was in moon spawn

[wolf_2099]

silentblade;326461 said:

i am new to this so be kind of lenient if i ask dumb questions, has any one heard of when steve is going to bring back wj or any of the others that was in moon spawn

This might take the cake as the dumbest question I have read here, but for all I know this guy read some random interview where someone said it would happen, but...

Why the hell would he? It'd ruin the books for me, I know people don't tend to stay gone in in these books, but if he brought them back I'd probably stop reading, it'd ruin probably the most wrenching death yet.

Which, well it is only my opinion, I just can't see it happening. In a book about the fallen, some people need to stay dead already.

If we compared the list of people who died and came back to those who died, which would be longer?

[acesn8s]

Plus Rake is ancient, he knows when to bide his time. I thought he considered Brood plus the wild card that is Silverfox enough of a challenge to warrant further consideration.

[Optimus Prime]

Consider also that Korlat was shocked when Rake told her to be prepared to unleash the full power of the Andii if she needed. Rake was considering all the possible outcomes should he draw his sword, not whether or not he and his people could destroy everyone there. I mean the Andii unleashing their full warren as a people has been hinted at in the series as disastrous.

[ShadowOwl]

I think Korlat was shocked because in that same page she says something about at the last chaining it only took ?a few? (she does say the number, don't have it handy) of them to destroy the crippled god's nascent realm and there are a lot of tiste andii's around this time. So it would be a LOT of power! Rake teases her and says she can show some restraint.

[Optimus Prime]

But that's what I'm saying.....it wasn't a question of whether Rake felt he could win the confrontation...more the consequences if he chose to unleash the power.

[ShadowOwl]

I was agreeing that the power available would be disasterous in consequences.