[Cougar]

I'm going to come to the most logical conclusion and stick with Duiker until someone comes up with a more sensible suggestion or we find out more in the actual book. It just seems most obvious to me, it was my immediate thought and in all previous cases where we've had to specualte my gut reaction has been right or almost right so I'll go Duiker.

Not saying it's deffo right, just can't think of a more likely suggestion??

[Nequam]

Hmmm....well I too think it is Duiker, but I would love to see Toc the Elder!

[Optimus Prime]

I think we'll see Toc the Elder in RotCG, just a hunch.

It could be Duiker, and would make sense because we've been waiting to see him for quite some time (at least I have)

[Illuyankas]

He'll be in the book even if he's not this guy. He almost certainly is, though.

[Silencer]

Grey Hair? Kallor, Duiker, Toc the Elder, maybe a BB, are really the only possibilities....
Duiker being the most likely.

[Optimus Prime]

From what I've heard SE has read a scene with Kallor and the old fucker is riding through a wasteland of sorts and is very grumpy, lol

[buddhacat]

It's Greymane. Grey mane, see?

[Mentalist]

no, Ereko is Greymane, lol


heh, but seriously, I think this is one of those things we all like to read too much into, and it is in fact (for once) the simplest answer--Duiker....

[Shurque's biatch]

It's a dream right? So WhiskeyJack? Just cuz we don't have enough to really know and, well crazy.

[Optimus Prime]

Whiskeyjack will not make another appearance in this series, no mater how much we want him to (unless it's a flashback)

I think Duiker is the most obvious...but that might be exactly the reason it isn't him.

[Candybars]

Hmmm, the only reason that I tend not to jump on the Duiker band wagon is that I would imagine that Kruppe would have recognized him.

He has been in K'ruls bar with the retired Bridgeburners since his immaculate reconception and I imagine that Kruppe, "knower of all things", would probably have bumped into him at some point.

I know that this is not definitive proof. I just got the feeling that Kruppe would have called him out had he met him before. He is always overly gregarious when welcoming anyone he might have met once in a market.

Then again, he just may not have bumped into him. Just a thought...

[Aptorian]

Why do people keep suggesting that Kruppe's scene takes place in his dreams? After MoI we know that K'rull can take shape in the real world.

There's nothing in that scene that makes me believe it's a dream.

[Optimus Prime]

It just gives off that vibe, but I agree Apt. Nothing outright suggests it.

Shadowthrone is incredible to me. He's just getting further and further stretched out...I want to know exactly what he's doing....

Just how insane.

[Aptorian]

Well, it's hard to maintain that many mule forms across an entire world, of course he's a bit stretched.

Apt, still waiting for the mule dragon.

[Optimus Prime]

I'm also wondering where Brood is. Is he in Black Coral with Rake, out roaming the continent with his army? Or is he camped outside Darujhistan?

[Jorram]

To me, Kruppe's part is definitely in a dream. First, the landscape is pretty surreal. Second, K'rul is allegedly connected to dreams. Third, Kruppe refers to previous times he has been "called" on a conversation with K'rul, which - if we remember back to GotM - was in Kruppe's dreams.

In fact, many important things in this series (for one thing, the birth of Silverfox), happen in Kruppe's dreams.

Also, I think Kruppe defintely knows the gray-haired person, by the looks of it.

[Aptorian]

What landscape? The only description we get is that it's a plain, there's some rocks, there's no stars and there's a fire.

Quote

“Oh frail city, where strangers arrive…”
An empty plain beneath an empty night sky. A lone fire, so weak as to be nearly swallowed by the blackened, cracked stones encircling it. Seated on one of the two flat stones close to the hearth, a short, round man with sparse, greasy hair. Faded red waistcoat, over a linen shirt with stained once-white blousy cuffs erupting around the pudgy hands. The round face was flushed, reflecting the flickering flames. From the small knuckled chin dangled long black hairs -- not enough to braid, alas -- a new affectation he had taken to twirling and stroking when deep in thought, or even shallowly so. Indeed, when not thinking at all, but wishing to convey an impression of serious cogitation, should anyone regard him thoughtfully.
He stroked and twirled now as he frowned down into the fire before him.
What had that grey-haired bard sung? There on the modest stage in K’rul's Bar earlier in the night, when he had watched on, content with his place in the glorious city he had saved more than once?
“Oh frail city, where strangers arrive…”
“I need to tell you something, Kruppe.”
The round man glanced up to find a shrouded figure seated on the other flat stone, reaching thin pale hands out to the flames. Kruppe cleared his throat, then said, “It has been a long time since Kruppe last found himself perched as you see him now. Accordingly, upon finding himself here, Kruppe has concluded that you wished to tell him something of such vast import that none but Kruppe is worthy to hear.”
A faint glitter from the darkness within the hood. “I am not in this war.”
Kruppe stroked the rat-tails of his beard, delighting himself by saying nothing.
“This surprises you?” the Elder God asked.
“Kruppe ever expects the unexpected, old friend. Why, could you ever expect otherwise? Kruppe is shocked. Yet, a thought arrives, launched brainward by a tug on this handsome beard. K’rul states he is not in the war. Yet, Kruppe suspects, he is nevertheless its prize.”
“Only you understand this, my friend,” the Elder God said, sighing. Then cocked its head. "I had not noticed before, but you seem sad."
"Sadness has many flavours, and it seems Kruppe has tasted them all."
"Will you speak now of such matters? I am, I believe, a good listener."
“Kruppe sees that you are sorely beset. Perhaps now is not the time.”
“That is no matter.”
“It is to Kruppe.”
K'rul glanced to one side, and saw a figure approaching, grey-haired, gaunt.
Kruppe sang, “‘Oh frail city, where strangers arrive … and the rest?"
The newcomer answered in a deep voice, "… pushing into the cracks, there to abide.’”
And the Elder God sighed.
“Join us, friend," said Kruppe. "Sit here by this fire: this scene paints the history of our kind, as you well know. A night, a hearth, and a tale to spin. Dear K’rul, dearest friend of Kruppe, hast thou ever seen Kruppe dance?”
The stranger sat. A wan face, an expression of sorrow and pain.
“No," said K'rul. "I think not. Not by limb, not by word.”
Kruppe's smile was muted, and something glistened in his eyes. "Then, my friends, settle yourselves for this night. And witness.”

As for the stranger that arrives. It seems to me as though him and Kruppe exchange passwords. A code that lets Kruppe know that the man has been sent to him... or something.

[Optimus Prime]

the only thing dreamlike is the "empty night sky" to me....

[Jorram]

It IS surreal. If it were in the real world, why would they meet in the middle of nowhere, for god's sake?

[Bonehunter]

Finally was able to read the prologue. I don't have anything new to add, but just wanted to say that I think it's pretty cool. I can't wait. I am hoping that we get to see more of the dead people than just the prologue and perhaps an epilogue. I am especially interested in Edgewalker. Having heard so much about him I am really keen on seeing what he is actually about.