Earwa > The Warrior-Prophet

His PROOF...

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locke:
Everyone knows that Cnaiur uses Serwe as his prize, his proof.  His proof that he is Scylvendi.  His proof that he is heterosexual.

But have you ever noticed that Serwe becomes Kellhus' proof as well?  She's his proof that he is a God. 

EkyannusIII:

--- Quote from: locke on May 08, 2013, 05:47:28 pm ---But have you ever noticed that Serwe becomes Kellhus' proof as well?  She's his proof that he is a God.

--- End quote ---

You mean to himself? The rest of the Three Seas seems to need no such proof, having many others at hand.




--- Quote ---Everyone knows that Cnaiur uses Serwe as his prize, his proof.  His proof that he is Scylvendi.  His proof that he is heterosexual.
--- End quote ---

I always thought Cnaiur's "homosexuality" was overblown.  He is attracted to one man (Papa Moe) or arguably two (also Kellhus, who is apparently shockingly like Moe in appearence) in a lifetime, in which he otherwise finds time to rape innumerable women (all presumably attractive) and marry IIRC four wives, one of which, Anissi, he is repeatedly stated to genuinely love enough to reveal his shame too.  That sounds less like a homosexual than a man who was sweet-talked into buttsex he wouldn't have otherwise been interested in while still a vulnerable adolescent.

In some ways I think the Dunyain's suppression of emotion impairs their interaction with mundanes in more ways than we realize.  If Moe wanted to own Cnaiur, all he had to do was offer himself as a surrogate father figure rather than a seducer; the effect in Moe's favor would have been the same, and he would have been able to go back to Cnaiur for more help as needed since Cnaiur wouldn't hate him (imagine if Cnaiur ended up becoming King-of-Tribes and received orders from Moe to submit himself to Kellhus along with the entire Scylvendi nation to prosecute the Holy War...).  He even could have used most of the other strategies he employed (e.g. the trackless plains metaphor).  But no, Moe has to go for the quick and dirty (literally in this case) fix.  Same thing with the swazond on his arms.  He could have been ridden to the borders of the steppe by Scylvendi he controlled, but he had to mark himself and then deal with the unforseen consequences.

Kellhus does the same thing with Akka over Esmenet.  Akka probably cannot defeat Kellhus, but he could have served him, and instead Kellhus goes and blows that all on the absurd premise that Esmi is the smartest woman he is going to meet in the Three Seas.  How is making enemies unnnecessarily the Shortest Path?

On the basis of these examples I think the Dunyain's lack of empathy impairs their ability to adequately cognize the long-term consequences of emotional manipulation.  Perhaps they cannot imagine that people have difficulty "getting over it" since this is plainly no problem for them...

Wilshire:
His proof of being a god? No, he doesn't need some dumb hot chick walking behind him with a card that says "i'm with the God" in order for him to make people believe. He doesn't really need mundane proof in that way.

I'd say that if you want her to be his proof, it would have to be more metaphysical: er innocence and dedication leading to his eventual (if not momentary) divinity. Not sure if thats what you meant, but there is no mundane/worldly reason I can see that he would need more proof than his own words.

Or, if you think Kellhus is bat-shit crazy, then I suppose its possible he wanted a blond bombshell at his side always telling him how awesome he was. Crazy Kellhus would have a big... ego... and he would also like people to stroke it...

sologdin:
there is a passage in II regarding how serwe affcts the micropolitics of interacting with kellhus, as i recall ut.  not proof of divinity, but more sedgewick's homosociality thesis: proof that he is a man worthy of attention for douchey aristocrats.

Wilshire:
Ok I'll give you that one. But even still, she makes things easier maybe, but he certainly doesn't need her, not as proof anyway. If Moe Sr. could persuade Cnaiur, a super macho barbarian, to be gay, I'm sure Kell could convince a bunch of sissies to do the same.

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