[Dolorous Menhir]

No, it was discussed by those who found Heboric that the Imass neutralised him first, they knew he was the greatest threat.

I think if Heboric had been prepared, or even on guard, he would've been a much genuine threat to the Imass. Greyfrog would've been able to put up a good fight too probably, given the chance.

The flies definitely aided the ambush, the party of travellers was TAKEN BY SURPRISE and all were disabled immediately.

That Hood intervened to keep Scillara and Cutter alive is still reasonable though, because frankly Cutter not croaking is inexplicable otherwise. His guts were around his ankles, I really thought (hoped) he was a goner.

[Onrack the breakable]

Cutter not croaking is not inexplicable. People have been gutted and lived in very primitive situations (as long as no major arteries cut and the guts wrapped up, cleaned, then put back in). Perhaps fortunately, most usually died in agony after several days but some lived in agony for weeks or months.

If the flies were the unbound bonecaster or some manifestation of the unbound why would it say, "something to show you"

The unbound like all imass simply kill they don't bother whispering secrets or shouting warcries. The flies are hoods and thats that. As for the obscure message, well hoods an obscure god and thats that. Jeez!

[Izingad]

There definately is a connection between Hood and Heboric seeming back to DG; hints are dropped through out HoC and BH that maybe Heboric will not be Treach's for long, (ex: pg414- "You chose wrong, Treach). Heboric could be on his way to the House of Death...or possibly House of Chains....though I admit he may just be changing positions to Shield Anvil.

That's the hard part because swarming flies can be a symbol for both death AND decay.

[tiam]

I dont think heboric was headed for HHD but i do believe that Cutter was saved. Scillara wasnt really harmed but Cutter was saved. I can only assume Cutter has a purpose that is important to Hood. Cutter is a ST and Cotillion 'minion' but has alot of connection with hood in BH (Soldier of death being sent off course of Skinner for example.

[The Rope]

I was just thinking - it might be possible tht the flies were originally a bonecaster's, but hood intervened alos. And it was just speclation that they took out heboric first because he was the greatest threat - personally i think he was taken out first because he reacted first. He was cut down after he leaped from the horse... unless my memory fails me yet again.

[Abyss]

Point made earlier, plus...: the Unbound's purpose was to take Felisin Younger for the CG. Kebabing Heboric was either also their goal, or just a necessary step because he alone could have stopped them, presumably by invoking some sort of crazy Trake related mojo that he utterly didn't have a chance to.

Cutter, Scillara and Greyfrog were collateral, taken out so that they could not interfere. Obviously the Onbound didn't care about witnesses (or they would have wiped out Barathol's village too), or intend to kill any of those three because they cut Heboric a LOT, but only hit the other three hard enough to ensure they stayed down. If they lay around and bled out, fine, but their deaths were not the point. Imass in general have enough hundreds of thousands of years of killing experience to know that a gut wound like they gave Cutter is not a guaranteed kill.

The flies could have been Hood's, but he seems to have known of Heboric's link to the Joly Jade Giant chunks, and having Heboric alive at the Ottie Island would have been easier than returning his soul, hence, no good reason for Hood to take Heboric out.

The 'something to show you know' echo of the flies in DG suggests Hood knew what was happening but couldn't or wouldn't interfere.

So i'm going with the Unbound for the flies, either deliberately or by deliberate use of the natural occurance.


- Abyss, pretty fly for a white guy.