[Aptorian]

A strange thing just occurred to me.

It's implied that Dragnipur needs to be broken to save the gate from the Chaos catching up. It's said to be a Matrons death spell that's killing darkness.

But what could brake Dragnipur, a sword crafted by an eldergod? A Matrons Death cry, would be my guess. We heard that Ruins magical weapons were broken that way. So perhaps that's SE's reason to reintroducing the K'Chain in the 6th book.

How else would you brake a god forged sword like Dragnipur, I doubt even Withal knows this.

Also I wonder, if there's a Matron in one of the Moons, could she perhaps reverse the Death spell killing Kurald Galain?

[Dolorous Menhir]

I don't think the deathspell is reversible.

Paran will be the one to break the sword, I bet. He's already intimately associated with it.

[Aptorian]

Ah, but how would he do that? He's clever but it's not like he could just snap his fingers

I remember he freed the hounds by making them jump into the realm of Darkness, I wonder if that is the link to the swords weakness.

[Hume]

The Moons Spawns are from the Histories told of so far inhabited by Short Tails.
Short Tails do not give up their power to a Matron. That was one of the reasons that they war against their brethren the Normal K'Chain Che'malle.
So there are probly no matrons in those Moons Spawns.
How to Break Dragnipur ?
Umm maybe Broods hammer ?

[Roland]

Btw, the Long-tails are described as the "chaotic ones" among the K'chain Che'malle. So I really don't think a Matron would help freeing Kurald Galain from Chaos.

[Aptorian]

I'm wondering if that description isn't just refering to their traveling around in the warren/realm of chaos.

[GingerBreadMan]

Apt said:

I'm wondering if that description isn't just refering to their traveling around in the warren/realm of chaos.

Simply travelling in Chaos makes you more chaotic. Like Hairlock.

As to what could shatter the sword, I imagine the key would be the maker.

He was warned about the sword, and hence likely took some precautions but it remains to be seen exactly what those are.

[Blend]

I think it will probably be Paran who breaks the sword, because of everything that Erikson has been leading up to regarding his connection to the sword and the Hounds and such... I think if it gets broken in this series (and I'm not sure yet whether this will actually happen) it will be by someone very human and very normal... It's usually the people with little to no power that do the astounding things in these books... Sort of goes with the whole anyone is capable of anything, even humans can kill gods, type of thing that is common in the Malazan world, doesn't it?

[Aptorian]

potsherds said:

Ummm...I think Swordbearer's theory as to what Paran's deal with Hood was, is so obvious...that its the best idea so far. That seems to fit very nicely. No square corners at all!

No it doesn't really make sense, since we know that other forces are conspiring to breake the sword. Hood wants the souls certainly but there are other consequences besides Hood getting a few thousand or so souls.

Remember many of the souls in Dragnipur are very old and very powerful, hence the use for them to drag the Darkness. More likely these Souls can't be claimed by death since they are too powerful for that unless they wish for deaths release, themselves.

And it wouldn't fit with Parans reaction to the request. More likely it will be something completely out of the blue.

[Abyss]

Part of the problem, as explained in MoI, is that the souls in Dragnipur are wearing out, and then their own 'dead' weight adds to the wagon, slowing it rather than speeding it away from Chaos.

It's an assumption on our part that Rake will even be alive when/if Paran makes an attempt to break the sword. Rake mentioned in MoI that he actually liked Paran. Rake may be hesitant because of the variety of bad things which would be released tho'. Of course, as shown, even Draconus has undergone a personality switch the last few millenia or so, as shown when he carried the demon lord he stuck there in the first place.

Interesting point raised above... what WOULD happen if all the souls went through the gate under the wagon? Implosion? Dead stop? Warranty expires? Nothing?


- Abyss, wonders if CAA/AAA has a warren tow-service.

[Trotts]

Quote

More likely these Souls can't be claimed by death since they are too powerful for that unless they wish for deaths release, themselves

Do we have any evidence of other dead souls deciding on their own that they didn't want to die? I'm not saying, neccessarily, that Hood can get all those dead (although Hoods supposed to be pretty ancient and powerful too right?) but does that rule out the Hold of Death or other similar areas?

Also, I get the feeling that the breaking of the sword will be largely facilitated by Paran. As to whether Rake is willing or not, that remains to be seen.

[Midnight]

I think that a big part of breaking Dragnipur will be getting Rake to yield it. In House of Chains Andarist has an intimate bond with the weapon vengeance/grief. He says Rake crafted it for that purpose but it abandoned it because Dragnipur better suited his nature. Perhaps it is partly Rake's will or power that holds the sword together and so if he yields it it will be able to be broken.

[McLovin]

Apt said:

And it wouldn't fit with Parans reaction to the request. More likely it will be something completely out of the blue.

Yeah, that's my feeling too. Doesn't seem shocking enough. Perhaps Hood wants to be slain by the sword, and then have it broken? Of course, how that helps in the battle against the CG I'm not sure.

[Trotts]

Off-topic, but:
When I read that part, it seemed like Hood wanted someones soul in particular.

[Aptorian]

I would think the same. Always an even trade, as the old 9th liked to say.

[Illuyankas]

Well, if they break the sword, and throw it through Hood's Gate, then all the really powerful dudes killed eons ago will still be as spent as they were, crushed in the wagon under layers of other 'victims'. So they'd be less likely to be able to resist, and give Hood a HUGE power boost.