[tiam]

could he not simply be one of those Andii from Kharkanos? like one of those Andii represented in the boardgame. Could his sacrifice not represent the return of MD and him not minding sacrificing himself. This could also apply to QB tbh or atleast one of his souls.

[Coldsnap]

Hey guys,

I see a lot of you observing Ruthan as a bona fide storm rider, or more. I really got the idea that he didnt know what he was doing with the storm rider sword and armor, he had somehow come across it during his adventures on the Stormwall and was willing to try to use it against the hordes of NahRuk if it could give his comrades time to understand the threat and dig in.

True he has an interesting past, no doubt of that, but specifically about the stormrider stuff, didnt it look like he was just trying out some stolen armour and weaponry?

[Ulrik]

Coldsnap, on 08 April 2010 - 05:29 PM, said:

Hey guys,

I see a lot of you observing Ruthan as a bona fide storm rider, or more. I really got the idea that he didnt know what he was doing with the storm rider sword and armor, he had somehow come across it during his adventures on the Stormwall and was willing to try to use it against the hordes of NahRuk if it could give his comrades time to understand the threat and dig in.

True he has an interesting past, no doubt of that, but specifically about the stormrider stuff, didnt it look like he was just trying out some stolen armour and weaponry?

Well yes, but it doesnt solves problem with parts with facing Draconus etc. Thats not for some mere ubersoldier from Stormwall.

[The Seguleh 46th]

Tarcanus, on 25 February 2010 - 09:26 PM, said:

Abyss, on 20 January 2010 - 03:29 PM, said:

Urizen, on 20 January 2010 - 09:53 AM, said:

Master of the Deck, Knight of Shadow and Spinner of Death were held by the table at Fid's reading.

Those are them. Fid uses MoD to bluff the Errant, knight is Seren's child, and i can't see any logical link to Spinner tho that's one of those cards we don't see all that often.

So no useful info there. rats.

- Abyss, foiled again.

Because I seem to have found a fondness for proposing Ardata is involved somehow, and the fact that I can't think of another 'thing' that could spin something as well as a spider, I'm going to propose that Spinner of Death is Ardata.


Or Hellian, via Ardata.

Crazy theories are awesome.

Speaking of crazy theories, with the two gods sitting all crispy in Seran's (sp.?) house, anyone else think Hellian could be a candidate for ascendency/godhood aspected to Wine/Beer/Whatever else those two were originally? Lol. That'd be sweet!

This post has been edited by The Seguleh 46th: 09 April 2010 - 12:22 AM

[The Seguleh 46th]

BTW, i like whoever put forth the Rudd was to Draconus as Spinnock was to Rake theory. Never thought of that possibilty before, but it could work on some level..... a past betrayal perhaps? Huh!

This post has been edited by The Seguleh 46th: 09 April 2010 - 12:25 AM

[rannald]

i just re-read that battle scene and it says
"Captain ruthan gudd drew a ragged breadth, savagley pushing the nausea away, and the terror that flooded through him in its wake that had him reaching for his sword. roots of the Azath, what was that? But he could see nothing- the dust had slung an ochre canopy across the sky and on all sides soldiers were suddenly milling, as if they had lost thier way, but nothing lay ahead, just empty stretches of land. Teeth bared, Ruthan Gudd kicked his skittish horse forward, rising in his stirrups. His sword was in his hand, steam whirling from it's white, strangley translucent blade
He caught sight of it from the corner of his eye." Hoods fist!" the skeins of sorcery that had disguised the weapon-in thick layers and tangled with centuries of magic- had been torn awa. deathly cold burned his hand. "she answers.she answers.... what"
It just caught my eye as i read it's on pg834, but that makes it seem like the blade, knew what was coming before Ruthan did, and that it was warning him or responding to thier presence, or somthing along those lines, and being that he was talking about the sword two secondes before i assume he was talking about the blade. I think ruthan gudd could be an elder god, just not as elder as Mael, it could also be that Ruthan Gudd was possessed by an elder god at some stage, like Apsalar was, and now contains the memories of said god, and indeed maybe some of thier powers and he picked up that weapon, somwhere......
Also there was some talk about rudd and QB being the same person or being somehow allies however Quick sees him and says (pg839)"Captain Ruthan Gudd or whoever you are.....gods what can i possibly say? go well, Captain. Go Well." it kinda points out that quick really never took an intrest in him to me...

This post has been edited by rannald: 09 April 2010 - 03:12 PM

[rannald]

rannald, on 09 April 2010 - 03:04 PM, said:

i just re-read that battle scene and it says

Spoiler

"Captain ruthan gudd drew a ragged breadth, savagley pushing the nausea away, and the terror that flooded through him in its wake that had him reaching for his sword. roots of the Azath, what was that? But he could see nothing- the dust had slung an ochre canopy across the sky and on all sides soldiers were suddenly milling, as if they had lost thier way, but nothing lay ahead, just empty stretches of land. Teeth bared, Ruthan Gudd kicked his skittish horse forward, rising in his stirrups. His sword was in his hand, steam whirling from it's white, strangley translucent blade
He caught sight of it from the corner of his eye." Hoods fist!" the skeins of sorcery that had disguised the weapon-in thick layers and tangled with centuries of magic- had been torn awa. deathly cold burned his hand. "she answers.she answers.... what"

It just caught my eye as i read it's on pg834, but that makes it seem like the blade, knew what was coming before Ruthan did, and that it was warning him or responding to thier presence, or somthing along those lines, and being that he was talking about the sword two secondes before i assume he was talking about the blade. I think ruthan gudd could be an elder god, just not as elder as Mael, it could also be that Ruthan Gudd was possessed by an elder god at some stage, like Apsalar was, and now contains the memories of said god, and indeed maybe some of thier powers and he picked up that weapon, somwhere......on a side note "white strangley translucent blade" reminds me of lorics tiste liosan blade,but theres probably no connection
Also there was some talk about rudd and QB being the same person or being somehow allies however Quick sees him and says (pg839)"Captain Ruthan Gudd or whoever you are.....gods what can i possibly say? go well, Captain. Go Well." it kinda points out that quick really never took an intrest in him to me...

This post has been edited by rannald: 09 April 2010 - 04:44 PM

[Soulessdreamer]

Maybe the sword is an anti KCCM weapon.

Makes me wonder if Ruthan was the one who bound the sword with sorcery to hide it or had it done.

TTFN

[Furion]

Ruthan is definitely not a mere human, but at the same time, I don't feel he is a stormrider.

In Night of Knives,

Spoiler

stormriders are desribed as having seaweed hair, yellow eyes, and angular facial features. They don't seem like they can pass for human.

Beyond that, the ability to face down Draconus does not automatically indicate "stormrider"

He may still be one, under some illusion, but his inner monologue seems to indicate to me that he is quite at home among humans. It strongly suggests "human". As ascendent, probably, but still human.

[Ulrik]

I think that theory Gudd is stormrider is wrong. They are differents species from what we saw in NoK. Maybe is Shurq multi-species sexy?))

[Luzburg]

Furion, on 10 April 2010 - 12:40 AM, said:

Ruthan is definitely not a mere human, but at the same time, I don't feel he is a stormrider.

In Night of Knives,

Spoiler

stormriders are desribed as having seaweed hair, yellow eyes, and angular facial features. They don't seem like they can pass for human.

Beyond that, the ability to face down Draconus does not automatically indicate "stormrider"

He may still be one, under some illusion, but his inner monologue seems to indicate to me that he is quite at home among humans. It strongly suggests "human". As ascendent, probably, but still human.

Besides the fact a Stormrider couldn't touch Draconus? Only Rake could best him and there are suspicions that Draconus did what Rake did to Dassem and caused his own imprisonment to escape the curse of Kallor.

[Davian Rhodrhm]

When Gudd says "she answers, ...she's never done that before" I personally thought he was hinting at Mother Dark, who had been turned away from everyone.

[seamus.the.platypus]

Ok I don't know if this theory has been explored yet, but I was thinking : could he be Dessimbelackis ?
From his memories and inner thoughts, we know he wasn't around when the Crippled God was brought down on top of Kallor's head. At the time he was in an Azath, or clawing his way back to the surface.
He also remembers a conversation where Draconus tells him something like : "This is none of your business, this is Kallor's empire". I kinda got the feling he meant : "this is Kallor's empire, NOT YOURS".

So that leaves me with someone who was considered to be of great power and a menace to the balance of the world, someone who had an empire before Kallor and the arrival of the Crippled God... That's how I thought of Dessimbelackis. But then again, I'm still on my first read and english isn't my language so I probably missed tons of elements that would go against that theory !

[worry]

Hmm. Now that I think about it, when you rearrange the letters in "Ruthan Gudd", you do get at least one D.

[Kim Bookreader]

Hello, I know this is a bit of topic, but you have been talking about Quick Ben here, I read this today in DoD and thought about this thread. Actually its not really helpful, it just adds mystery to Ben, but anyway. Ben and Bottle are talking about the wastelands and Tavore before they march:

'So, what have you and the Adjunct got to be so secret about? If I really am your shaved knuckle, I need to know things like that, so I know what to do when it needs doing'
'Maybe it's her', mused Quick Ben, 'or more likely it was T'amber. They've sniffed me out,Bottle. They've edged closer than anybody's ever done, and that includes Whiskeyjack.' He paused, frowning. 'Maybe Kallor. Maybe Rake - yes, Rake probably saw clear enough - was it any wonder I avoided him? Well, Gothos, sure, but -'
'High Mage,' cut Bottle in, 'what are you going on about?'

And later:
'... You say she's got close to you. Have you returned the favour?'
'I would, if I knew how. That otataral sword pushes me away - it's what they're made to do, isn't it.' Seeing the sceptical expression opposite him, he scowled. 'What?'
'It doesn't push you as hard as you like to pretend it does. The risk is that the harder and deeper you push through the otataral, the more of yourself you potentially expose - and if she catches sight of you, she don't just be close to knowing you, she'll be certain.' He jabbed a finger at Quick Ben. 'And that is the reason why you don't dare push through. So, your only chance is me. Do I resume spying or not?'

Makes me think that Ben has someone really old and powerful in him, specially if he can push away otataral. But unfortunately it doesn't give more than that...

[worry]

As we know, Hood is neither an Elder nor Younger god, but something of neither. Which leads me to believe that Quick Ben is, in fact, Hood's Balls made manifest.

[Toolman]

Greetings all. I'm 3/4's of the way thru a reread of DOD after rereading the rest of the series.

So much I missed the first time. I'm still no closer to who Ruthan Gudd is/was.

I do feel he is human but not a big mover and shaker, he does seem really basic almost like he was just living, enjoying life and hoping not to be noticed.

I liked the character, and hope we see more of him, somehow.

Right now I'm looking over at my side table with "Stonewielder" and "The Crippled God" sitting on it. I really should be reading DOD instead of these forums.

I am pleased to meet you all, I've been reading these forums for years without bothering to register, and have enjoyed your thoughts and opinions.



Be Well, Be Happy, Be Healthy,


Toolman

[Mason of Death]

I was reading DoD, and I ran into a quote, when Gudd us thinking about Greymane, and he's rubbing his face and thinking something about not liking/being used to 'this body'. Not sure what it implies, just thought I'd stir the pot a bit. I'll take the time to find the quote tomorrow. Cheers!

[tiam]

Odda re he has changed his appearance. He doesnt have to be an ascendant to do that he could be of a similar power level to Loric to manage it.

[worry]

I believe part of Ruthan Gudd's "new body" wonder has to do with his beard...I forget the quote, but it seemed like that was something new to him. So I'd wager he was originally a woman, or a non-human, or both in his original body.