I don’t recall it coming up until TAE, I think the WHCB sections refer to the ‘First Apocalypse’, which heavily implies an as yet unmentioned Second. Akka also declares it to the Ordeal as they retreat, ‘the Second Apocalypse is upon us’ or some such. Its late on, but Bakker does mention it in text.

‘I'd imagine that the fully functioning Ark engaging the No-God apparatus though, would have been very different though.  But once the Sarcophagus is in "manual boot mode" by the Consult millenia later, I think the functionality of Ark is vastly divorced from that of the No-God.’

(Sorry to copy and paste -  I’ve not quite fathomed the functionality of the site on a mobile yet)

I’m inclined to agree. Once you’ve got the shoddy lawnmower to start, it can still go like a dream.

Pretty harrowing to consider what befell the other worlds, when a fully-functioning Ark arrived in orbit and a fully populated Holy Swarm descended.

I was sort of adding together and dividing by two so I’m open to being wrong, especially since I can’t show my working (I’m working and posting during cigarette breaks).
 I think someone mentioned upthread that the horns were referred to as the oars, and with Bakker’s quote that the ‘oar rattled to life’ or some such it felt like the upright horn roaring could have been that. I’m relying on memory so I’m prepared to be wrong ☺️
I’m just glad I’ve finally posted something. I’ve been lurking so long it’s nice to actually get into things, even superficially. The knowledge and penetration displayed on the board as a whole is both hugely gratifying (I’d have given up on the series without all your collective insight) but also fairly intimidating to join.
A massive thanks to you all for keeping the fire burning!

You're a hero! Many thanks

Hello! First post so be gentle...

I read and reread the Golden Room many times to try and unpick the ambiguity of Kellhus and Ajokli's relationship. I feel they are analogues of one another - both separate from their 'race', both great decievers and quick to betray, both have crossed into each other's 'realm'.

As stated by Bakker, Ajokli has been involved with Kellhus since the Circumfixion, but Kellhus didn't know it was Ajokli until later ('light of delusion'). Kellhus himself tells Proyas that he has been to Hell. I believe this is literal and that he 'struck treaties' there - unless we choose to believe Ajokli took over in the Golden Room unbidden I don't see another reading for the 'treaties' line (A Prince of Hell has no one to be making agreements with in Hell if Kellhus is removed from the idea.)
I imagine their relationship to be a mirror of Kellhus crossing the Stepe with Cnaiur - trackless/conditioned ground, Cnaiur's constant vigilance against Kellhus - this could be why Kellhus repeats 'there is a head on a pole...'

(I apologise for the stream of consciousnes - I'm typing this on a phone on a train)

Would someone be able to clarify a point for me - Malowebi observes the events that take place in the Golden Room from Kellhus' hip. At one point he thinks he hears a voice speaking to him alone, and he doesn't hear it again. Could Kellhus hear Malowebi, and communicate with him?
 
Many thanks for letting me join, and thank you for all the insights that without which I would be lost while trying to make sense of these novels!

N