[Khanna]

Hey guys. In the 5th book there is a part where Tehol and his servant Bugg are talking about Gerun Eberict. During the conversation this is said:

"The fire will be an unfortunate consequence of an unattended oil lamp. Unattended because of the suicide. Burnt beyond recognition, alas, but the scrivers will swear by the blood's owner. That's how they work, isn't it?"

What is a "scriver"? Is it some sort of blood mage? I couldn't find its meaning anywhere.

[Abyss]

I believe there it means a scribe who records the name of the deceased, the point being that even tho the body or reason for death is suspiciously vague, someone is still making the name of the dead person 'official'.

...i could be wrong but that's how i read it, in the context of Eberict's activities and the semi official cover-up around them.

[Khanna]

Abyss, on 07 July 2022 - 04:41 PM, said:

I believe there it means a scribe who records the name of the deceased, the point being that even tho the body or reason for death is suspiciously vague, someone is still making the name of the dead person 'official'.

...i could be wrong but that's how i read it, in the context of Eberict's activities and the semi official cover-up around them.

But how can a scribe determine the owner of a blood sample? It's not like they know about DNA.

[D'rek]

I interpreted it as a "scriver" is someone who uses magic/clairvoyance/whatever to do forensic investigation. Even though the body is not recognizable, they'll collect some blood and use their scriving magic to ascertain the identity of the person from whom the blood belonged.

Not sure why it is written as scrivers instead of scryvers.

[Khanna]

On a related note, there's something else I didn't understand. Tehol and Bugg are still conversing.

The wizened face at the hatch was scowling. "And Turble?"
"We smuggle him out the usual way. He's always wanted to take up fishing. Put someone in the tunnel, in case he bolts sooner than we expect. Gerun's watchers will be our finest witnesses. Oh, and won't the Finadd spit."
"Is this wise?" Bugg asked.
"No choice. He's the only man who can stop me. So I'm getting him first."

What does "won't the Finadd spit" mean? I couldn't figure it out no matter how hard I tried.

[amphibian]

The Finadd will get upset and spit because they're upset.

[Khanna]

amphibian, on 08 July 2022 - 12:50 AM, said:

The Finadd will get upset and spit because they're upset.

First of all, thank you for replying. English is not my native language, so I'm having a hard time with this. What do you mean by "spit"? Are you talking about throwing saliva with his mouth? What does that have to do with anything? Is it a euphemism for killing?

This post has been edited by Khanna: 08 July 2022 - 01:17 AM

[Slow Ben]

“Mad enough to spit” is a saying. An idiom.


Seething with anger; furious to the point of becoming irrational.

[Khanna]

Slow Ben, on 08 July 2022 - 02:07 AM, said:

"Mad enough to spit" is a saying. An idiom.


Seething with anger; furious to the point of becoming irrational.

Oh, okay. Makes sense. Thank you.

[Abyss]

Khanna, on 07 July 2022 - 04:43 PM, said:

Abyss, on 07 July 2022 - 04:41 PM, said:

I believe there it means a scribe who records the name of the deceased, the point being that even tho the body or reason for death is suspiciously vague, someone is still making the name of the dead person 'official'.

...i could be wrong but that's how i read it, in the context of Eberict's activities and the semi official cover-up around them.

But how can a scribe determine the owner of a blood sample? It's not like they know about DNA.

They don't, that's the point. They're putting a name down and shutting up about it.

Or D'rek could be right.

Or both.

[Tsundoku]

Abyss, on 08 July 2022 - 03:50 AM, said:

Khanna, on 07 July 2022 - 04:43 PM, said:

Abyss, on 07 July 2022 - 04:41 PM, said:

I believe there it means a scribe who records the name of the deceased, the point being that even tho the body or reason for death is suspiciously vague, someone is still making the name of the dead person 'official'.

...i could be wrong but that's how i read it, in the context of Eberict's activities and the semi official cover-up around them.

But how can a scribe determine the owner of a blood sample? It's not like they know about DNA.

They don't, that's the point. They're putting a name down and shutting up about it.

Or D'rek could be right.

Or both.

I took it as - it has been written down, so it's official now, no matter the facts.

EDIT: "So it has been written; so it shall be done."

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 08 July 2022 - 09:04 AM

[Cyphon]

I'm in the camp that Steve wrote it and recognised it could be either and had a big smiley emoticon face.

[amphibian]

Khanna, on 08 July 2022 - 01:17 AM, said:

amphibian, on 08 July 2022 - 12:50 AM, said:

The Finadd will get upset and spit because they're upset.

First of all, thank you for replying. English is not my native language, so I'm having a hard time with this. What do you mean by "spit"? Are you talking about throwing saliva with his mouth? What does that have to do with anything? Is it a euphemism for killing?

I'm half Nepali and deaf, so I understand the challenges of switching between languages. You're doing great and please ask questions about things you'd like to know more about.

Welcome!