Ch. 14:
I believe the opening epigraph should be attributed to the fighting Norsirai of the Holy Way at Mengedda.
A chevron of geese drawn long and ragged fled across the bluing skies.
Daybreak.
Lmao. What are we, in a John Woo movie? Also, nod to Achamian's OG mule and that moment most prized by Mandate Schoolman (and no doubt Swayali Witches).
And thus begins the Battle at Golgotterath.
I love that Kellhus divided the Ordeal into the three "Trials" of the Ordeal (p267) - doesn't seem quite so neat a division or description regarding which Schools are paired with which Trials as when the Great Ordeal divides into the Four Armies for forage at the Leap.
I actually hadn't recalled this part but MG mentioned it on the weekend "the Black Mouth of Golgotterath" (p268) - definite Tolkien nod (Black Gates/Mouth of Sauron).
The chorus rumbled out across Shigogli, and the Men heard what their ancient forebears had once heard - as the Nonmen had heard before them: the way the Horns reflected shredded echoes, and so mocked all collective declaration.
Damn.
Im'vilaral, the Nonmen of Viri had called them so very many indignities ago, the 'Horizon-that-has-teeth.'
I'll take this as a nod to Athjeari (though, it's probably unintentional), scourge of Fanim, second only to the Horns themselves!
Hurall’arkeet!The parable of the
Pitarwum of the Yimaleti is great.
I think I'm going to bullet point the battle for the lulz:
(see bottom of post.)Only the Nonmen, Nil'giccas and his allies, had managed to overrun this, the most wicked of all places.
We talked about this over the weekend. Cool. Shit. Not only that the Nonmen were the only Earwan force to get into the Ark but then to proceed to purge it
over five hundred years!Damn.
That pesky short notation that seems to be eluding a good number of readers about the Scylvendi taking out the Ordeal's scouts
(p276). I will admit, it's short.
Hringa Vukyelt, son of Hringa Skaiyelt of First Holy War fame pushes forward to present terms to the Consult (p276). Badass... but count me among those who enjoy connecting obscure dots. Pins and string, people!
Again, I'm just going to keep claiming minority outright but I actually like the opening back and forth between Mekeritrig and the Ordeal, especially given that he might simply be speaking to Kellhus rather than the Ordeal or humankind as a whole.
The Holy Aspect-Emperor stood unharmed, his Believer-King kneeling at his side. A wild mane of scorching formed a perfect circle about them, blackened earth still smoking.
Kellhus testing Cet'ingira... Brave Vukyelt. But is it courage or foolhardy stalking a more powerful shadow...
Proyas. Saubon. But then Oinaral trusting Sorweel's destiny to preserve him was also foolhardy, though the alarum was heard. Things to ponder...
monstrous Hagazioz, the Feathered Worm of the Pit, a Godling the size of two galleys set end upon end.
Kakaliol is great but Hagazioz is fantastic... a cousin of Zioz, maybe?
Their deception spent, the Ursranc surged onto the heights of Golgotterath's walls, armoured in hauberks of black scale, their cheeks branded with Twin Horns, hooting in their corrupt tongue.
Twin Horns/White Hand, Ursranc/Uruk-hai.
One thousand Kites, as the Ordealmen had come to call them, fairly every sorcerer of rank the Major Schools of the Three Seas could muster.
The greatest assembly of sorcerous power the World may have ever seen.
I fear more horrific souls have claimed me.
I've wondered about this line by Iyokus... he could be interpreted as to mean greater Ciphrang, Kellhus himself, or even Ajokli, given that Iyokus is even more to blame than Achamian for creating Kellhus as he is (having provided him with the Daimos as Achamian did the Gnosis.
Great passage regarding being a husband at a pregnancy - as it's been relayed to me by friends and family anyhow (again count my among those few who actually enjoyed reading about a pregnancy in a
fucking Fantasy novel) (p284).
"Someone, Mother ... Someone must see."
Given that Anagke mid-wifs their lives, it's possible that Achamian, personally, has to appreciate that specific vista.
But the Triunes continued their blind advance, converging upon the one thing they could clearly sense in the swirling great monotony: the fallen Trinkets of the Chorae Hoard, strewn about the base of the very stoneworks they had exposed and weakened.
I really love this bit - especially how the Triunes were established to carry their compatriots from battle in the advent of near-hits by Chorae.
Domathuz collapses "revealing stacked floors that crawled as broken beehive, a glimpse of a thousand inhuman throes, before all dropped howling into the smoke and ruin below.
What a great and horrifying image.
For the first time in history, the belly of Golgotterath lay exposed to the licentious fury of Men.
Love the Achamian section that ends the chapter, seeing the towers of Golgotterath fall. The Wizard of the Second Apocalypse! And as I said over the weekend, I don't have the eye for it that others have but I can see the camera lens peering towards Achamian's back, Golgotterath and the Horns framing him against the sky, while the Ordeal and Schools unleash their fury.
The Battle at Golgotterath:
- Vukyelt calls terms.
- Cet'ingira tries to get Kellhus in a Chorae Hail.
- Kellhus Translocates.
- Iyokus and the Scarlet Spires unleash the Ciphrang from above.
- The walls of Golgotterath are covered with Wards and the Scarlet Spires set the Ciphrang on those of the High Cwol, the walls of the Intrinsic Gate.
- Chorae Bowman advance and hit the Wards on the walls:
The Chorae Hoard rained upon and across them, each sparking violent dissolution, explosions of salt. Blocks cracked. Joists groaned. The Ursranc on the parapets were thrown from their feet.
- Clear Ordeal objective, take out the Quyan Wards (p281).
- Serwa commands the Schools to unleash the Ordeal's sorcerous contingent, first move obscuring the ramparts with dusk and grit (a la Kellhus with mist at Sakarpus).
- Schools advance through their shroud using the Chorae Hoard, which lay against the foundations of the walls, to orient themselves while dodging another Chorae Hail.
- Consult waits in defensive position.
- The Scarlet Spires and the Mandate take out Corrunc.
- The mundane Ordeal "surges forward" (p287).
- Domathuz falls to the Schools.
- The Swayal assail the Ubil Maw.
To Be Continued and Collated... Current Perceived Advantage: Ordeal.
Read Ch. 14 in two sittings over two days. I very likely won't get another sitting until tomorrow afternoon - though I'm going to try and put a couple more hours work in transcribing Zaudunyanicon audio while I babysit.
Cheers.
