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Re: Musinbgs on Myrdred, Bonesplitter, and Shiver
Posted By: SiliconDream (anton-mates.hip.berkeley.edu)
Date: 7/14/1999 at 12:40 a.m.
In Response To: Re: Musinbgs on Myrdred, Bonesplitter, and Shiver (Forrest)
D'oh! I can't believe I didn't pick up that Shiver's a Myrmidon. Somebody slap me! Bonesplitter's a Myrmidon-type name, Shiver has the same blitzkrieg attitude and absurd vanity as the Myrmidons, and it explains perfectly why Shiver/Bonesplitter is said to be "turned from the light;" she gets seduced at the same time as the other Myrmidons. Plus it explains why in Myth II, Shiver commands most of the Myrkridia; they're the closest in temperament and behavior to the old Myrmidons. I'm thoroughly converted.
However, isn't it more likely that Shiver and Soulblighter have a long history of hatred, than of love? I don't think Myrdred's crack about "strange bedfellows" would sting much if they really were together; you get over being embarrassed about having a boyfriend in junior high. (Granted, Shiver isn't the most mature and well-adjusted individual around.) And there wouldn't even be a point to calling her a "lowly camp follower." She'd know that's not true--she's Soulblighter's main squeeze! (And it's not just about sex, either--the guy loves her for her mind, dontchaknow!) I should also point out that "retribution" means "revenge," not "repentance." The Deceiver isn't atoning for anything, or trying to be good; he just wants to kick ass on all his old rivals. As for Shiver, she presumably wants revenge on the Light for her last defeat. It seems to me the most likely scenario is that Soulblighter and Shiver were once rivals, but that when he resurrected her with Tramist's Mirror, he managed to gain her subservience through force, fear or her desire for revenge. Myrdred's taunts point out that she now finds herself working for an old enemy.
No one seems to have observed (maybe I just missed the post) that Soulblighter may very well be older than Balor. The journal writer implies that the Deceiver has been evil for over a millenium, and if Shiver is the Myrmidon queen she's been evil for--well, I don't actually remember if the flavor says how long ago the Myrmidons were seduced by the Dark Side(tm), but it was probably quite a while. But neither the Deceiver nor Shiver (if she's Bonesplitter) is considered an "ancient evil," so the Watcher, Soulblighter and The Voiceless One must have been evil considerably longer--meaning before Connacht became Balor. Of course, we know that the Watcher was already annoying Connacht before he became Balor. But what about Damas? The sobriquet "Soulblighter" implies that he's known for, and skilled at, turning people to the Dark (as evinced by all those brigands and dark archers). I suspect that he was a Fallen Lord long before Connacht even arose; instead of being stupid and fighting Connacht directly like the Watcher did, he masked his evil (maybe he hadn't yet mutilated himself) and managed to become Connacht's lieutenant and advisor. Over the years he first got Connacht to acquire all the artifacts of power that he could, and then set about turning Connacht to the Dark. Meanwhile, Damas secretly recruited Shiver and her Myrmidons, the Deceiver and the Faceless Man. Only when Connacht gave himself over to evil and became Balor did Damas reveal his true nature and receive the name "Soulblighter" for his skill at seduction. This would explain why the younger Fallen Lords, Shiver and the Deceiver, both dislike Soulblighter. (At least, Shiver does in my scenario.) Though they're too far gone to return to the Light, they still remember what life was like before the "indesribable agonies of the Fallen" and hate the man who persuaded them to join the Dark in the first place.
One last, not-very-meaningful comment--could there be some connections between the Trow and the Myrmidons, and the Myrmidons and the Ghols? I'm just thinking about a Ghol/Myrmidon connection because Ghol names seem like simplified versions of Myrmidon names. Myrmidons have two-part noun-verb names like "Bonesplitter" and "Fleshtearer;" Ghols have one-part verbal names like "Splitter" and "Butcherer." I can't make any coherent theory out of this tidbit, but do the Ghols perhaps idolize and try to emulate the Myrmidons?
The possible Trow/Myrmidon connection is historical, and its validity depends on exactly when the Myrmidons were zombified. I know it says they were made "immortal", but as far as I remember they behave in gameplay like any other undead creature, immune to gas and harmed by journeyman healing. There was an inconclusive argument on this a little while ago in this forum--if you can settle it, Forrest, please do. I posted a suggestion that they're considered immortal because their personalities survived the transition from life to undeath, whereas ordinary undead like Thrall and Wights are totally mindless, mentally dead. Anyway, if they weren't zombified much more than a millenium ago I think Damas and Bahl'al probably did it, but if the Myrmidons are older than that then it must have been the Trow, who had the Dream of Unlife before any of the current Fallen. (Even if the Myrmidons aren't undead, if the Trow had the Dream of Unlife they probably had the means to make Myrmidons too.) This would fit in with the Roman character of the Trow and the Greek name "Myrmidon;" as the Romans did to the Greeks, so the Trow conquered and enslaved the Myrmidons. Of course, this only makes sense if the Myrmidons were created much longer ago than they probably were, so think of this as a backup theory (I always carry a spare).
I think I've adequately demonstrated why trying to produce a rational exposition at 3:30 in the morning is a bad idea, so I'll go to bed now.
--SiliconDream
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