[mot]

While rereading ROCG I came across Kyle's dream in which he sees Ossercal and Anomandaris discussing the crystalline formation in what appears to be a the realm of Shadow, or at least a piece of it and I wondered if we are seeing the formation of an Azath? According to Anomandaris, the formation is a new entity and Ossercal states it is "alien." We are told that the crystalline formation is "as large as a building" and that it may have been a "low dark hill or structure of some sort." Yet it is also described as a living thing, which certainly fits the sense of Azath elsewhere, particularly since they appear in the Deck of Dragons which apparently only describes living things (the individual Houses are made up of actual individuals). We have seen the formation of two Azath, the one in the Refugium and the one in Darujistan and they both appear to form instantly, but that doesn't necessarily mean that is the only, or even the common, way. I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere and I should probably look back, but it is time to put the kids to bed so I don't have the time now. As a last thought, if it is an Azath, is it possible that this is the means by which Kellanved and Cotillion found Shadow vacant?

[amphibian]

mot, on 29 November 2010 - 02:21 AM, said:

While rereading ROCG I came across Kyle's dream in which he sees Ossercal and Anomandaris discussing the crystalline formation in what appears to be a the realm of Shadow, or at least a piece of it and I wondered if we are seeing the formation of an Azath? According to Anomandaris, the formation is a new entity and Ossercal states it is "alien." We are told that the crystalline formation is "as large as a building" and that it may have been a "low dark hill or structure of some sort." Yet it is also described as a living thing, which certainly fits the sense of Azath elsewhere, particularly since they appear in the Deck of Dragons which apparently only describes living things (the individual Houses are made up of actual individuals). We have seen the formation of two Azath, the one in the Refugium and the one in Darujistan and they both appear to form instantly, but that doesn't necessarily mean that is the only, or even the common, way.

I like your theory. The Refugium Azath built upon a very strong life force for its creation and the Finnest House used Raest's Finnest to fuel its own development. I think the distinction between the three is that two had the opportunity to jump-start their development.

It may be worth mentioning that the only times I really remember "alien" being a common descriptor of something almost always involved the Ice Riders.

Quote

As a last thought, if it is an Azath, is it possible that this is the means by which Kellanved and Cotillion found Shadow vacant?

It is strongly, strongly intimated that Shadow's vacancy was discovered via the Azath and that the exploration of the Azath network led to the accumulation of that power and more.

[D'rek]

It may be an azath, or it may be Shadowhouse. OR BOTH

[Sinisdar Toste]

i'd say its the same shadowhouse that ST and Cot find themselves in at the end of NoK

[Ceda Cicero]

amphibian, on 29 November 2010 - 02:25 AM, said:

It may be worth mentioning that the only times I really remember "alien" being a common descriptor of something almost always involved the Ice Riders.

Them, and the Crippled God.