[Tattersail_]

Ganoes Paran is one of my favourite characters. His development is great, I love everything about him. There is something that has bugged me, (in an, "I really want to know what is going on", type of way), in Toll the hounds there is a part where picker goes into the azath to ask Paran what to do about the assassins. He does speak to her but he is really busy, he is in the middle of some sort of battle. We don't know what is happening with him and haven't since. I have been dying to find out what he was up to, what he is up to, do you think this will be explained in the crippled god? Or have I missed something?

[D'rek]

There is that and the mystery of what happened when the Errant and Sechul went to attack him in DoD. It is likely that we'll get an answer to both in tCG. Or who knows, maybe it'll show in SW since Paran was suppoedly taking the Host to Quon Tali and didn't show in RotCG...

[Abyss]

Tattersail, on 21 July 2010 - 03:08 PM, said:

...I have been dying to find out what he was up to, what he is up to, do you think this will be explained in the crippled god? Or have I missed something?

I'm pretty sure we'll see Paran in TCG and find out more.

My guess is that Paran brought the Host to Kolanse and walked into trouble.

His message to Picker in TtH was "...not the time Picker. We've landed in a mess. If you can get word to them, try. Warn them Picker, warn them off."

Purely a guess on my part that the 'them' he's referring to are the Bonehunters but it seems to make sense.

- Abyss, could be wrong.

[T'renn]

Or maybe he followed the T'lan I to Assail ?

Thats a mess to be sure

[haroos]

Tattersail, on 21 July 2010 - 03:08 PM, said:

Ganoes Paran is one of my favourite characters. His development is great, I love everything about him. There is something that has bugged me, (in an, "I really want to know what is going on", type of way), in Toll the hounds there is a part where picker goes into the azath to ask Paran what to do about the assassins. He does speak to her but he is really busy, he is in the middle of some sort of battle. We don't know what is happening with him and haven't since. I have been dying to find out what he was up to, what he is up to, do you think this will be explained in the crippled god? Or have I missed something?

in bonehunters paran and his army were said to "leave never to return again".
it's only obvious they went to aruba.

[T'renn]

That was only one Girl.

As a citizen of the Netherlands (Aruba being part of it) I must note that at least over 99.9% return from Aruba. That would mean that out of the Host only ten men won't return

[Tattersail_]

i am sure he was one of the central characters throughout tMBOtF, he must be in tCG, and there are some good suggestions above, how could picker warn the bonehunters though? aren't they too far away?

where is silverfox? would paran be heading towards her? or will she be with him?

will kruppe feature again at all?

[Excellence]

Erikson has hyped up Assail continent so much that I'm concerned expectations will be let down if not true to its reputation. Does anyone else think this?

Even Olar Ethil, superpower that we're told she is, had trouble getting off the place.

We know of only one other place that's bad trouble -- the sorceror kings of Shal-Morzimm, who were strong enough to repel the Malazan empire.

[D'rek]

Excellence, on 22 July 2010 - 01:14 PM, said:

Erikson has hyped up Assail continent so much that I'm concerned expectations will be let down if not true to its reputation. Does anyone else think this?

I wouldn't necessarily agree to that. He's never stated that there is anyone of particular power there, just a force that can defeat T'lan Imass and Crimson Guard. That could just as easily be a couple super-mages as it could be an enormous zergling rush. Whatever expectations you've got should only be that whatever is on Assail can defeat T'lan Imass, because that's all the info we have on it. Iron Bars' squad, for example, could easily have gotten across Assail via the stealthy route and Spinnock's info is pretty vague.

Excellence, on 22 July 2010 - 01:14 PM, said:

Even Olar Ethil, superpower that we're told she is, had trouble getting off the place.

I don't believe you. Quote or it didn't happen!

Excellence, on 22 July 2010 - 01:14 PM, said:

We know of only one other place that's bad trouble -- the sorceror kings of Shal-Morzimm, who were strong enough to repel the Malazan empire.

I don't believe you. Quote or it didn't happen!

[T'renn]

It was more something of Kelanved travelling there on the "Twisted", after he visited Sepik and he and the Three got into a bit of a struggle.

I believe it was Fist Rythe Bude who said so to Paran

Ah, found it.

"Malazans. Knew enough to make their first visit their last."
"I wasn't aware we'd visited at all," Paran Said
"The Emperor. And Dancer. The Imperial Flagship, Twist. Gods, that craft alone was sufficient to give the Three pause. Normally, they annihilate strangers as a matter of course - we trade with no-one, not even Nemil. The Three despise outsiders. Were they so inclined they would have conquered the entire continent by now, including Seven Cities."

p 480 Tor Books version

[GingerBreadMan]

D, on 23 July 2010 - 01:36 PM, said:

I wouldn't necessarily agree to that. He's never stated that there is anyone of particular power there, just a force that can defeat T'lan Imass and Crimson Guard. That could just as easily be a couple super-mages as it could be an enormous zergling rush. Whatever expectations you've got should only be that whatever is on Assail can defeat T'lan Imass, because that's all the info we have on it. Iron Bars' squad, for example, could easily have gotten across Assail via the stealthy route and Spinnock's info is pretty vague.

i think SE gave us a pretty big clue in regards to Assail in Reapers Gale on page 769.

It came when Hedge was talking with Emroth(the T'lan Imass who was marching with him and worked for the CG) and trying to decide whether he should blow her up or not.

He was talking about T'lan being flesh without soul and him being soul without flesh, mentioned how she cannot "see"
him.

He held up a cusser and the following conversation took place


"I do not know what that is"
'Aye but is it even here'
'No. Like you it is an illusion'
'An illusion, or a manifestation of the will? My will?'
'There is no value in the distinction.' the T'lan Imass asserted

'You cannot see the truth within me, for the vision you'd need to see it is not within you. You threw it away, at the Ritual. You wilfully blinded yourself to the one thing that can destroy you. That is, perhaps, destroying your kind even now- some trouble on the continent of Assail, yes? I have vague recollections of somebody hearing something...well, never mind that. The point here, Emroth, is this: you cannot understand me because you cannot SEE me.Beyond, that is, what I have willed into existence- this body, this cusser, this face--'


Now I'm not sure what this means but the Imass not being able to see their enemy seems like a pretty good explanation for their being slaughtered. Perhaps Assail is like Letheri was and is full of spirits/ghosts that are being used by humans as soldiers(as the Edur used the Andii ghosts)?

Edit- Went back and was reading the various mentions of Assail and the trio from Assail that were following Kyle in the Crimson Guard mentioned "its just like back home" in reference to Stoop appearing in "ghost" form.

So it seems pretty clear Assail is somehow populated by ghosts/spirits that for whatever reason the T'lan Imass cannot see/understand and are therefore getting their asses kicked

This post has been edited by GingerBreadMan: 27 July 2010 - 07:44 PM

[worry]

Ghosts vs. the Undead?! That's almost as cool as vampires vs. werewolves!!!

[Spiridon_Deannis]

Abyss, on 21 July 2010 - 03:57 PM, said:

Tattersail, on 21 July 2010 - 03:08 PM, said:

...I have been dying to find out what he was up to, what he is up to, do you think this will be explained in the crippled god? Or have I missed something?

I'm pretty sure we'll see Paran in TCG and find out more.

My guess is that Paran brought the Host to Kolanse and walked into trouble.

His message to Picker in TtH was "...not the time Picker. We've landed in a mess. If you can get word to them, try. Warn them Picker, warn them off."

Purely a guess on my part that the 'them' he's referring to are the Bonehunters but it seems to make sense.

Yeah, that is my theory. Especially considering how deviously SE loves to hide these little snippets. I wouldn´t be surprised if Paran´s host shows up right in the beginning of tCG to absorb the rests of the BH. Would be a nice family meeting, if dear sis is still alive. Wow - tagteam Bonehunters !! Coolassery...!

This post has been edited by Spiridon_Deannis: 27 July 2010 - 09:52 PM

[foolio]

Excellence, on 22 July 2010 - 01:14 PM, said:

Erikson has hyped up Assail continent so much that I'm concerned expectations will be let down if not true to its reputation. Does anyone else think this?

Even Olar Ethil, superpower that we're told she is, had trouble getting off the place.

We know of only one other place that's bad trouble -- the sorceror kings of Shal-Morzimm, who were strong enough to repel the Malazan empire.

I thought Erikson said he was not personally going to do Assail. So I dont think Paran is there , becasue I think Erikson will have him in the next book. (pure speculation on my part)


Also I personally dont remember Olar Ethil mentioning having trouble getting out of Assail.

And, Also , werent the Three also the ones mentioned as kicking the shit out of the TI in DOD? One TI actually wounds one of them and then the attach is called off.

[Excellence]

Outrage! Peons questioning my integrity. Tehol the Blanket Robed shall spread his legs whilst seated for this affront and Rucket bedamned if she waits in line for y'all...

Witness! I shall gift thee with answers. The Shal-Morzimm reference was in Bonehunters, when the army was trying to get off Seven Cities and return to Unta. The three sorceror-kings gave even Kellanved pause. The Perish weren't eager for a confrontation either, prowessly as they were reckoned to be.

Behold, the the Assail reference was in Memories of Ice, at the gathering of bones witnessed by the corpulant Cake Muncher and marine escort, when Olar Ethil said she barely got off Assail. Then, we knew her as a mere Bonecaster. Then, we knew only that an exchange of mage fight between her and the city high mages she was fighting years past made Pale's fireworks look like a toilet flush. Later in Bonehunters, when Cotillion speaks with Edge and the imprisoned three, she was considered to be the patron of the Imass, as Rake was patron to the Andii, thus giving readers the impression she was more than a bonecaster of repute.

Seren's stinking slippers, are we satisfied now?

This post has been edited by Excellence: 01 August 2010 - 01:49 AM

[Kryphon]

Blah blah blah, does Paran go to Assail or does he go to the aid of his sister? That's all I want to know! Plus I can't WAIT to see how he messes up the Errant when he finally steps up and confronts him. Paran has proven time and again to be far more intelligent than most of those around him. Well, at least more willing to gamble.

[Excellence]

Intelligent, or underestimated?

He slew Polly by no other reason than the birdthing just sat there while he impaled her.

Realistically, he hasn't been seriously challenged. Errant's uncertainty has held him back, but I've only begun the book so I'll see more when I do.

[Kryphon]

Underestimated would probably be accurate. He isn't the freaky kind of smart that QB or Kruppe are. He isn't even the same type of intelligent that WJ and Dujek were. But he sees things differently and reacts in ways that most people don't expect. I still think the Errant is in for an ass kicking when he finally makes his move.

[GingerBreadMan]

I think the biggest reason he was underestimated was the fact that no one knew who or what he was.

It seems like none of the newish Gods understood what a "Master of the Deck" was/is so how can they plan for him when they don't know what power he has or doesn't have

[Excellence]

Damn Erikson. There was absolutely no reason to drop that tidbit in Toll the Hounds "we've landed in a load of trouble". Other than to hype up fan interest until we can find out what's the dire deal. He did this on purpose!