but the Aörsi passages from Kellhus's POV are clear about prepping Proyas for something.

Apart from the rape, which Kelly seemed to derive at least some pleasure from. Sure it would have served some purpose, but I feel like his own desire was more of a driving force of the rape.

My reasoning is really just how it reads. Prosha has his head on Kelly's lap and Kelly thinks of him as his most beautiful servant, then he savours the feeling as he slides his willy over Proyas' buttocks. Then he took Proyas "like he'd never been taken before" or something (I can't remember it's the last sentence of the scene though).

To me it seems more desire driven than logos driven. Would be good news if it was a more benign act. As it is it's pretty scary. Reminiscent of the Inchy. Could it be related to his time spent with demons? More probably the meat.

I went on a bit of a tangent but I agree with everything you've said Monkhound.

1) Warrens- literally the domain of the each God. And sorcerer's use them for their magic, it's actually a physical place also.

2) Gods, well are just that, the Gods. Though all used to be alive at one point or another, IIRC. And, they are not human, rather Tiste, Jaghut or other races.

3) Ascendents- these are humans who ascend to God Good or take on a specific role for one of the Gods.

My memory is hazy, but that's the gist of it. As you go along in the series it all comes together.

Ascendants are beings who ascended almost to godhood (powerful, ageless). There are many ways to become an ascendant but none of them are easy.
To be a god you must be worshipped. Gods have access to more power than ascendants.
There is no racial limit to ascendancy or godhood; a human can be either as can any other sentient race

I hadn't, that's a good collection I've only read a handful of them, ta 

Joe was very good, could not stop laughing at the part on swearing in LotR 

Monster of an entry. Fantastic stuff 

Cheers Madness. Yeah got it from Achamian

I don't recall ever hearing anything about the Shiradi Empire. That the Xiuhianni invaded them and had the strength to raze their capital and wage war is pretty damn interesting. Not hugely relevant tbh but still. Love learning crap about Eanna and the Xiuhanni.   

There wasn't much mention of the Sranc in Part II. Surely they had a not-insignificant impact on the growth and fall of these empires? Perhaps have unified the peoples of the north against a common threat.

I found it odd where the tribes ended up. I was wondering if they decided among themselves who would go where, but I suppose they split up hunting the Mansions and just settled the fertile lands near them. But how did they know where to find the mansions? Did they wander around searching for them? Unlikely, else they wouldn't have settled in such defined areas imo, plus the Nonmen could have hidden their mansions as they did Golgotterath. I'd say the Inchoroi told them where the mansions were... Perhaps Husyelt told Angeshrael, or, most likely, the Tusk told them were to go.