Gernia vs RotE *spoilers all Hobb books*

[Farseer]

I went to bed but had to come back, before I forgot another couple of similarities between RotE and Gernia which have come to mind...

1. Addictions such as cindin, tobacco, elfbark, Skill, food etc, and the damage these cause on personal and other levels (and also the need for water and food to replenish Fitz and Nevare after the use of the Skill/magic, though to a greater extent in Nevare's case ), and

2. External/physical/developmental etc differences and how these are viewed by society or change the way a person is treated. Also how society comes to later view many of these differences as insignificant when the person achieves something of significance despite their 'disability' or difference -

eg Nevare - his weight gain suddenly takes him from being a solid soldier's son to a glutton and lazy slob. Once he works hard (Gettys etc) he is seen as no different but then it is only due to his size that he receives the labels of rapist, murderer etc..and, yet, he is a Great One and his size is seen as glorious and magical to the Specks;

Thick is seen as a freak, and 'something' to be shunned and scorned, but is accepted and admired once he Skill-heals on Aslevjal and his 'worth' is in evidence;

Those who are 'touched too strongly by the Rain Wilds' are killed as babes and also shunned, as is seen by the example of the keepers, but soon all will know that they have not only found Kelsingra but have helped restore the dragons to good health and have even reached the status of 'Elderling'...not to mention found solid ground perfect for farming, and even those in other regions of the RotE have come to realise that the Rain Wilders are not unlike themselves;

The slaves in Bingtown and elsewhere were not seen as anything beyond slaves, could not be seen as people beneath their tattoos, but they helped restore peace to Bingtown and helped the Rain Wilders with the dragons and by becoming a part of their community;

Even the liveships were 'different' and their own selves were not appreciated for many generations;

The Specks, who Nevare and others came to realise are no different to the Gernians and who have had legitimate reasons for past actions etc;

Nevare himself even thought little of scouts but changed his viewpoint after befriending Hitch...;

Trees were ignored and cut down/destroyed until it was realised that they were alive with the souls of people...they just had a 'tree' exterior.

So many examples...lots to expand on!

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Oh, and also the repairing of the body via the use of the Skill/Wit and the magic eg Fitz repairing Fool, Burrich repairing Fitz, Wintrow repairing himself with the aid of Bolt, Kettle maintaining herself, Nevare being repaired quickly when full of the magic (when he was shot in the head and stabbed in the stomach) and less quickly when the magic ebbed.

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And another...that both Kennit and Nevare took 'prostitutes' from brothels and gave them a chance for a better life. These men saw them differently than the rest of society (as did Wintrow more than Kennit, with Etta) but then society had to later acknowledge and praise them - Etta with her fighting skills and later even honoured because of her title of 'Queen of the Pirate Isles' and mother-to-be of Kennit's child; Amzil with her amazing sewing skills, and what a fantastic mother she was to her children.

And yet another...both Fitz and Nevare who were helped escape out of prison by women who liked to burn things (Starling and Kettle) and blow them up (Epiny and Amzil), to cause diversions!