The episode where Psatma is meeting with the other high priestesses at the struck table, not too far into chapter 5, US edition pps 113-5:
"Phoracia claimed to see Eleva touch a Chorae not more than three months previous in Carythusal, during the solstice observances. That mean the witch had replaced her recently, did it not?" (115)
A few thoughts:
- probably the work of gnostic glamour
- possibly something we won't see again in the series, since this seems like a high risk/desperation move (witches are so valuable and so exposed by their mark)
- riffing off that last thought: there must be a whole class of people throughout Earwa who missed being snatched up by schools when they were young, but they can still see the onta--these people would be invaluable as spies! every great faction has to have some!
- if we do see it again, who will be unmasked? perhaps someone we already think is marked? Cleric wasn't Cleric, Mimara takes a wrong turn in the maze, jogs back to be with Akka, he's been *replaced*
- could be Kellhus' dunyain/neuropuncture/skin spy mess? The passage reads so much like a skin spy substitution, I gotta think Bakker was trying to communicate that vibe. Kellhus is worse than the Consluts to Psatma.
- chorae: either it is as the priestesses think in the above passage (Eleva is replaced after the touching a chorae) OR Eleva was handling a fake chorae--which got me thinking, there must be a lot of those around. If you don't have the ability to discern a fake one from a real tear of god, you could be totally tricked into buying one at a bargain rate in the streets of Momen.
- the whole thing is a set up--Eleva is replaced, but not by a Kellhus operative. Eleva replaced to condense Psatma's power. Who stands to gain from this?
A few thoughts:
- probably the work of gnostic glamour
That's my bet. Though due to the "ghostly ramparts," which I believe is the description of her defensive Ward cast, I suspect Kellhus didn't limit the Swayali's education to the Gnosis.
- possibly something we won't see again in the series, since this seems like a high risk/desperation move (witches are so valuable and so exposed by their mark)
I can't remember if Psatma can see as the Few...
Regardless, you'd think with the unclear metaphysical nature of the Catacombs and it being Psatma's high table someone would notice the Mark... unless that was the function of the person replaced.
- riffing off that last thought: there must be a whole class of people throughout Earwa who missed being snatched up by schools when they were young, but they can still see the onta--these people would be invaluable as spies! every great faction has to have some!
The Thousand Temples had the College of Luthymae (featured in my Swayal story). All the secular factions must use the non-Marked Few as such, especially the Inrithi faithful. But the Schools. They probably train all their Few.
- if we do see it again, who will be unmasked? perhaps someone we already think is marked? Cleric wasn't Cleric, Mimara takes a wrong turn in the maze, jogs back to be with Akka, he's been *replaced*
Subforum is TJE, MG :P. Anything past should be tagged.
But you know, I often wonder if Bakker is going to start killing characters The Departed-style. It makes me fear for the future.
- could be Kellhus' dunyain/neuropuncture/skin spy mess? The passage reads so much like a skin spy substitution, I gotta think Bakker was trying to communicate that vibe. Kellhus is worse than the Consluts to Psatma.
Consluts... lol.
I think Kellhus could easily have fucked with a skin-spy. But I think he probably uses his instruments...
That'd be some good atrocity tales, of Kellhus' Ministrate fighting to take over the Three-Seas, cloak and dagger-like.
Tsuor could be Kellhus' neuropunctured/skinspy, MG.
- chorae: either it is as the priestesses think in the above passage (Eleva is replaced after the touching a chorae) OR Eleva was handling a fake chorae--which got me thinking, there must be a lot of those around. If you don't have the ability to discern a fake one from a real tear of god, you could be totally tricked into buying one at a bargain rate in the streets of Momen.
Given that they are a mark of nobility in the Three-Seas, I'm going to say that vendor's dealing fake-Chorae get put in the River Phayus real quick.
The Swayal also study and maintain the folk magical practices of witches so the wards could be one of those. A go to ward that is quick and effective against material threats that she used because it was easy and comfortable to do.
Also I can see all sorts of fake Chorae scams (Tears of God=splinters of the True Cross). Sleight of hand switches or sucker moves to bait the mark into bringing money to where he can be robbed ("I represent a family that would rather their declining fortunes isn't made public. They are willing to sell one of their chorae, if the right price can be reached")
[EDIT Madness: Added spoiler tag for content that's from books ahead of this subforum (WLW, TGO, TUC).]