: But the Avataras aren't really a race; Alric's family,
: for instance, never seemed to demonstrate any magical
: talent. And they aren't a community either; the
: Avatara who became Shades did so voluntarily (like
: Turquine) and were apparently rulers of their own
: little kingdoms and, obviously, didn't share the
: beliefs of the Nine. The avatara, like Forrest says,
: are simply the most powerful sorcerers, and by and
: large powerful sorcerers aren't very interested in
: being represented by anyone other than themselves. I
: don't think there would be any subordinate Avatara for
: Alric to command; all the Avatara in the west were
: automatically part of the ruling body, the Nine, by
: virtue of their power and wisdom. Can't prove this, of
: course, but I think if there were other Avatara we'd
: hear about them.
Alric would still be the leader of the Avatara. He would only command the other Nine, which are subordiant to him anyway. Alric is a powerful Avatara. He defeated that shade in "Out of the Barrier" So he must be more powerful than the average Avatara.
Where did it say that Shades wanted to become Shades?
: Well, there are. The myrmidons are berserks, so Myrmidon
: sorcerers (like perhaps Shiver) are berserk sorcerers.
: There aren't any *Light* berserk sorcerers because, as
: Forrest points out, the dark path is easier for those
: who aren't very intellectual; just cut off bits of
: your body or sell your soul instead of spending a few
: decades studying.
Just because you are born into a race doesn't mean you can't be something else. All people born into berserk culture are not necessarily berserks. One person out of 1000 could have the intelligence to become a wizard (though he'd probably be the weakest magic user of the Nine)
: I don't think this has *ever* been true since the
: Palaeolithic. The best generals are the smartest and
: shrewdest ones, regardless of how they are at personal
: combat. And it still doesn't explain why there are two
: types of bowmen, or two phases of the Heron Guards.
Hey, myth's world resets itself every 500-1000 years. What, are there military acadamys? Probably not. The best way to gain tactics is experience. And only the strongest survive in warfare.
Maybe fir'bolg are innately better archers (better sight, better nerves, etc.) So humans were trained as warriors.
Ah, see I didn't know about J-men become Herons until I read the journal entry for Redemption just now.
: Does it say Alric was the leader? Strange, but I can't
: argue with the glossary.
Quoted: Nine, The: Nine Powerful wizards who oppose the
Fallen Lords. Alric is chief among them,
blah blah blah.
: Well, it's been sixty years. I figured he could train at
: least a few of them, and if he did they'd certainly be
: turned out to fight Soulblighter.
Yeah, maybe a couple, but then its unlikely that the Legion will see them. Perhaps they were part of the royal guard that got killed at the Gate of Storms.
: Madrigal, the capital of the West and the focus of the
: war? Unlikely. Almost all of the Nine were almost
: always there (along with The Head) almost all the
: time, I think.
Here, I have absolutely no proof whatsoever, but I put this idea forward. There are 9 legions, each one commanded by one of the Nine. One legion, known as The Legion, is the group of hard-asses that gets sent to the most dangerous places. Sadly, their Nine guy died in the first 14 years. They are commanded jointly by all other Nine. And by their own captain (such as a warrior captain and a fir'bolg captain) Now, during the course of the 15th year, Alric's legion was eradicated by the Deciever and Alric is resuced by The Legion. It's logical for The Legion to be ruled by Alric.
When Crow's Bridge starts, this is what it's like: One of the Nine is dead. There is one of the Nine present each at Bagrada, Seven Gates, and Stair of Grief. Alric is heading towards the desert to get the armor. Someone is at Tyr, most likely. And maybe another one is trying to stop whoever is at Avon's Grove. And another is trying to hunt down the Watcher. That leaves... 1 of the Nine at Madrigal. That is Rabican.
: No way! Alric's a babe! I've got the "Playboy"
: where Alric takes it all off and, believe me, it's
: something.
I bet the pictures were taken before the "clay pot" incident. If you saw his face after that... you'd be mentally scarred for life.
