[D'rek]

Wanted to point out,

Spoiler

Poliel and Soliel

could really just be unique-looking gods. Fener and his ogre-like appearance is unlike any race we've seen, could be the same with

Spoiler

Poliel/Soliel

. The raptor-feet is never mentioned with other FA, but FA always get their bifurcated/hinged chest mentioned and these two don't have that specifically. Furthermore, the extra-joints bit also occurs in Jaghut (not as much, I think it was just arms and hands or something like that).

To add to the list of known ones, there was one that was Guardian of Tremorlor, but died a while back. It's actually a weird one because if the FA probably didn't like the Azath much, since they seem pretty order-like and therefore not balanced enough for the FA.

[coltainereborn]

I completely forgot about calm telling Karsa that he was destined for something and she would be there when he did it. That is pretty chilling given karsa's overall goal of uniting the Toblakai to rid the world of civilization, which falls pretty close to the FA's idea of achieving "balance" by removing most living things from the world.
And actually the idea of soliel/poliel being FA makes sense, not only because of the physical similarities but the the goddess of healing and disease being linked- they achieve a sort of natural balance

[kingnothing]

Abyss, on 25 February 2009 - 08:37 PM, said:

The ones we see in HoC and MT were beaten and stuck under rocks or in caves. Presumably they would have to be strong enough that they could not just be killed outright by whomever bound them (Icarium and some Tlan Imass in Calm's case, for Serenity the implication was First Empire mages but it's not certain), and then strong enuf to survive x millenia under a rock, which does suggest they are exceptional members of the species.

Then again, the only definitive kills we've seen were by Kettle, who was arguably a FA herself, and Silchas.


- Abyss, chilled.

Um when does Kettle kill an FA? I just finished MT for the 2nd time and am chastising myself for already forgetting that she did. Did she?

Put me down as confused.

[Aptorian]

At some point, I believe it's when Featherwitch and Udinass pass between worlds, they come upon a Jaghut tower with a dead FA inside it. There's little child footprints heading out of the tower.

[kingnothing]

Aptorian, on 02 February 2010 - 08:39 AM, said:

At some point, I believe it's when Featherwitch and Udinass pass between worlds, they come upon a Jaghut tower with a dead FA inside it. There's little child footprints heading out of the tower.

Thanks Apt, that rejogged my memory, I recall that I was wondering at the time who it was that killed the FA, guess I have my answer now. Which offers up more questions as usual but oh well...for another time I guess haha

[Aptorian]

Well, you don't really have your answer, you just have the agreed upon most probably guess as to who killed the FA. We don't know with certainty that it was kettle who did it.

[Jorram]

I think this scene is more like the creation of Kettle, rather than she killing a FA. The FA became her. The steps only lead out of the place iirc.

This post has been edited by Jorram: 03 February 2010 - 06:57 AM

[HoosierDaddy]

Jorram, on 03 February 2010 - 06:56 AM, said:

I think this scene is more like the creation of Kettle, rather than she killing a FA. The FA became her. The steps only lead out of the place iirc.

Agreed.

This whole sequence is strange, what with the "house" where we see this taking place. But, Kettle had an FA inside of her and that's what Silchas found so dangerous about her.

[Elephant Tamer]

Puck, on 05 June 2009 - 02:16 AM, said:

'You had to understand, Kettle. The one within you must understand. My refutation of the Forkrul Assail belief in balance is absolute. It is not that I am blind to the way in which force is ever countered, the way in which the natural world strains towards balance. But in that striving I see no proof of a god's power; I see no guiding hand behind such forces. And, even if one such existed, I see no obvious connection with the actions of a self-chosen people for whom chaos is the only rational response to order. Chaos needs no allies, for it dwells like a poison in every one of us. The only relevant struggle for balance I acknowledge is that within ourselves. Externalizing it presumes inner perfection, that the eternal struggle is over, victory is achieved.'

I find this part interesting, cause it goes against my image of the FA as keepers of order. It seems their adherence to balance goes into the territory of creating chaos when order is too prevalent. Sounds very dangerous, and self-destructive.

[HoosierDaddy]

Silchas is explaining an outside perspective of the FA. Every experience we've had with the FA is from an outside perspective. We have NO idea what their internal goals are other than what we can interpret from non-first party perspectives and occasional third party POV's.

The FA built perfect cities below ground so that they could live above it. That's pretty much solid evidence of an insanity to me. Order can be viewed as a balance. Balance between actions could be viewed as justice. Justice can be abused as balance.

[Jorram]

Elephant Tamer, on 03 February 2010 - 07:42 AM, said:

I find this part interesting, cause it goes against my image of the FA as keepers of order. It seems their adherence to balance goes into the territory of creating chaos when order is too prevalent. Sounds very dangerous, and self-destructive.

I'd missed that, too. It's pretty neat. So thats why everybody hates the FA - they are simply against everything Order is good? - no we should bring in chaos (eat me, Azaths). Chaos is good? - no we should bring in order (in your face, Eleint)

[Pig Iron]

Edited for spoiler, you're right Whiskey ...

This post has been edited by Pig Iron: 04 February 2010 - 02:00 AM

[WhiskeyJackDaniels]

A moderator needs to edit the post above because it contains pretty massive Reapers Gale spoilers.

[Red King]

From what i've read so far, they are just straight up beasts when it comes to combat and their sense of 'Arbitration' does seem to stem from a form of justice that prevents forward movement in general. God only knows how they evolved into they creatures they are with all of their means of stopping forward progress. But, perhaps, that is where their sense of justice and 'Peace' comes from. This is purely speculation since i have not read past HoC and am currently on MT. But, maybe their ways comes from millenias (sp?) of evolution and growth to when they reach their current status of existance where a policy was created because they became to powerful and saw that they would eventually destroy themselves at the rate they were going. Thus, creating a system that made them eventually these psychos that views justice in a disturbing way and makes the solitary so that they reproduce slowly so no more of these animals show up at a rate that would decimate the world. Also creating this policy made sure that no other race would reach their level of power and prowss.

- Ultor

[Darujistani]

Perhaps it may be a stretch given what is known but there are many more examples of words evolving throughout the series. There has never been any info given on the name of that elder race. Was Assail the continent named after the bipeds or vice versa?

[Darujistani]

Hoods Balls, on 04 June 2009 - 10:03 AM, said:

Always thought about the possible linkage between the name Forkrul Assail and the continent of Assail. probably just a coincidence...or?

I guess you know now but anyway - Silverfox and her T'lan Imass are fighting a losing battle on Assail against what i'm assuming must be the last hold out of sweet FA's. Cannot wait for Esslemont's next novel - Assail.