Others' Island (spoilers all books incl RWC)

[Farseer]

*grabs popcorn and reads on*

I'm sure it wasn't as exciting as you expected!!

I am not sure about the Fool's transformations making him more human.... I guess I don't necessarily see Prillkop as more human and he's all the way to black. Not that I can really know for sure what he is like ...... or that he is necessarily what the Fool will become (but I assumed it was).

Yes, it IS a mystery that I hope (please Robin!) will be answered. I expect that Fool will transform beyond the 'black' phase as he has paved the way for the greatest changes...his Catalyst has even caused change beyond his perceived lifetime?

Hmm...it seems that serpents have a She Who Remembers for each few generations but each generation no longer requires her once they have located the Rain River to become dragons, as they then contain the fullness of their memories (firstly as a serpent so they can find their way to the cocooning grounds and then as a dragon, for once they emerge they behold the memories via the womb wood). Each generation of humans has the White Prophet (who base their prophecies not on the future so much as the past, much as a SWR does?), whose lifetime spans a few of those generations. It could be assumed then that, once a human has reached full Elderling status and holds full understanding, they too would no longer require the services of a White Prophet? Of course, this arrangement had changed to a more complicated state post-cataclysm?

Ok, BACK to Others Island...

When people seek the prophecies or sooth-saying of an Other from the Island, they place two gold coins on its tongue. While I think we have firmly determined that they get most, if not all, of their 'far-seeing' ability from the waters taken from around She Who Remembers, WHY do they ask for a coin payment? Of what use is gold to an Other?

How will their role have changed now that She Who Remembers has been released? They were still present on the island and treasures were still being placed/washed up on to the shore when Fitz and Dutiful visited...

Elsewhere on thePlenty we have talked about the role of the Others throughout the realm's history eg as Abominations, was their task to look after the eggs/serpents laid by the dragons? etc. Interestingly, after Kennit had asked an Other (the Other who spoke Kennit's prophecy) if the treasures of the beach belonged to the Others it replied,'We are but caretakers here."

In this, the Other clearly acknowledged that they held a caretaking role...but for who?