(Mar-10-2012, 10:59 PM (UTC))Farseer Wrote: Just a quick visit here but I so very much want to come back to discuss it all...

**City of Dragons spoiler to about Chapter Three (so if you've read the publisher pdfs, as featured on the main news page, you'll be fine)*

Spoiler

The number twelve cannot represent the actual number of Skill-Pillars. There are five in the King of Chalced's Throne Room, (which I assume to be located in the map tower of an old Elderling city?), four for the Witness Stones at Buck, one at the plaza where Fool and Fitz had their joint 'vision', one in the quarry, one in the Stone Garden, one on Others' Island and one in the map tower of Aslevjal. That alone is fourteen without any others. Unless one 'Pillar' (as in each of the twelve Pillars of the Man Ceremony) does only denote or represent one destination or Portal Gate grouping...but I doubt it...I think! Who else went when they read of those five blocks of memory stone?!

Same CoD spoilers that Farseer mentioned, nothing more:

When I saw this it reminded me of the discussion here somewhere about the 'center' of the world - or map. We know Buckkeep was a very prominent place in the world of the Elderlings for having 4 whole Skill Pillars in one place. When I saw FIVE there in Chalced I thought to myself "oh my gods this is it, this is the central home of Elderlings!"

It has to be. It makes the most sense based on where we know all the other Pillars to be. (And thinking of the other Pillars that are now on the bottom of the ocean along with the rest of the used-to-be coastline.)

I think this brings about entirely new ideas about the Elderlings realm and whether border-lines even existed. I believe the Farseers are definitely descended from Elderlings... but oh my what about the rulers of Chalced!?

(Oct-19-2010, 12:28 AM (UTC))Farseer Wrote: It says in AA, "It requires a Man to sponsor and name the candidate, and he must find a dozen other Men who concede the boy is worthy and ready" so, yes, it does seem that it requires thirteen, including the sponsor....


...naming him as Changer...

Spoiler

In a discussion between Jani and Malta, a number of times the word 'Changed' is used in relation to the changes wrought by the Rain Wilds. I don't think we have seen this term so used in such a way until this book (feel free to confirm/deny as I'm not taking the time tonight to check! ) and so this sudden capitalisation of the letter 'c' had my body snapping to attention and my theory wheels screeching! I am going with a connection between Changer and Changed but, if I am being practical rather than fanciful, I could acknowledge that Forged, too, begins with a capital letter. Forged. Changed. Nah...I'm going to say that Forged is capitalised due to its growth from the name 'Forge' and thus Changed is due to a Changer connection!

Spoiler

As for Changer/Changed, that is a mere coincidence. The cultural roots for the Six Duchies and Bingtown/Rain Wilds have been clearly defined different.

(Mar-16-2012, 12:28 PM (UTC))Farseer Wrote: I could acknowledge that Forged, too, begins with a capital letter.

Spoiler

Changed

Spoiler

his name, Changer, and the Changed existance being experienced by the Rain Wilders/Elderlings.

Spoiler

On yet another tangent that I may regret...Fitz is Changer and, as the Catalyst, does not change. Like a true catalyst, he creates change but does not change. Maybe this explains (only maybe!) why he and those of his line do not appear to change whilst other 'Elderlings' do. Though this lack of change remains to be seen, of course.

(Aug-23-2010, 02:52 AM (UTC))NeverBeenWise Wrote: Oh goodness, I just thought of something that might have been in the plot for the next trilogy with Fitz, if it ever comes into existence.  It relates, I promise!  I'd originally just thought of the Skill ability as the origin of the name.  Maybe the Fool's comment refers to the first Skilled Farseer's gift coming forward in time to grace Fitz with the same gift?  But I really like the other theories a lot.

But what if the name refers not only to Fitz, but to Fitz's descendants as well?  So far he only has one daughter, Nettle.  But now that he's married to Molly he might have other heirs as well.

What if one of them is the next White Prophet?  That would mean Fitz would have to take the kid to Clerres to find the Fool so the child could have a proper tutor.  It would probably also mean he'd have to go through Chalced, Jamaillia, and Bingtown, and possibly meet some characters from the Liveships Trilogy, and maybe have an unfortunate little stopover in Others Island once again.  Then the name 'Farseer' would apply literally to the child Prophet: he or she would see far, far into the future.  We'd all learn more about White Prophets, possibly about their anatomy, and joy of joys - we'd see the Fool again!    Who would be Fitz's kid's Catalyst?  Would it be Fitz himself?  Interesting concept... hm....