[Abyss]

Actually, i think the quote re: Ruin is that he drank deeper so he's more draconic in nature, not crazier.

Somewhere in MoI it's mentioned that Ryllandaras (desert wolf, Dg and HoC)learned to control the madness, but it's pretty clear most of the other human shapeshifters are nuts... even Messrerb is DG, who was relatively friendly to Mappo, was said to be hovering on the edge.

Even Bauchelain and KC aren't what one would call 'sane'. QB seems to be, assuming he IS soletaken, as has been suggested but never proven. Buke seemed ok. The Jheck were debateable..

I suppose there's no hard/fast rule, but the 'shapeshifters are nutters' thing only seems to apply to human, and specifically First Empire 'shifters.

- Abyss, of debateable sanity.

[Dolorous Menhir]

Was Bauchelain a Soletaken too?

Buke only just became one, it probably takes time. Gryllen seemed pretty sane too, up until the point when he killed Kulp.

[Monoch Ochem]

They're both soletaken crows or ravens or something. They veered to take on the Tenescowri and Buke followed them.

[Ellestra]

Dolorous Menhir said:

I think the madness comes with spending too much time in your Soletaken form, as Trake did. Not the actual act of veering itself, but the state of being "veered".

I think it applies to those who veer into animals. Most soletaken and d'ivers take after their animals, even in human form. I suppose it's this dual nature, two conflicting states of being, ways of behavior, that makes them insane, unstable.

Eleint are sentient so one wouldn't loose ability to think. But it makes one immortal, detached and uncaring - it's hard to bother about all this little, shortliving creatures when you are as big and powerful as a dragon. Maybe that explains what Anomander does, or why Andarist gave it up - trying to care.

[Dolorous Menhir]

But Andarist didn't seem to care about anything, even his own death. Though I suppose he could've still been trying to regain his feelings, and failed...

[fan_83]

errr the di'vers went mad due to the ritual not due to being soletaken..

andarist gave up due to grief not cos of not caring.. hes a damm powerful sod but surrendered the majority of his power due to grief