Although the Nonmen must have been involved or at least known of Ishual given the speculated tunnel between it and Ishterbinth. But if that proves untrue then forget what I just said.
Camlost, I've debated this with Dean more often than you can imagine. He's surprisingly well read - if only obsessively trying to find Bakker's continuity errors... LMAO!
That being said, I have to hand it to them, except Kellhus' comparison of the Nonmen Mansion beneath Kyudea there is no textual evidence for the Thousand Thousand Halls being an extension of a Mansion or that Ishual was built on one - in fact, the evidence - I think he's got three pieces, if I recall correctly - points towards the Dunyain building it themselves for training purposes... though clearly, lying to initiates is Dunyain Teaching 101.
+1. Why have Mek up there unless he's up to some evil Consulty stuff?
+3, I think, evil Consulty stuff! Because that was always the plan .
Clearly, Mekeritrig is up to something - I've often wondered if Ishterebinth would hazard another returned traitor from the Inchoroi but it's possible Cet'ingira went to sway the Nonmen to the Consult? To reveal Nil'giccas' lie/omission, finally?
Not as poetic as the dragon that Akka awoke destroying is final goal (does that fall under world conspires? I still dont get that), but and interesting idea.
+1 Wutteat - as Curethan said, it'll be super obvious, if that's the case.
The World Conspires, to me, Wilshire - though, I'm not sure others share my hesitancy - is simply Fate Conspires. Mostly, the evidence aside the rationalizing, is this: "The world has its own ways, sockets so deep that not even the Gods can dislodge them. No urn is so cracked as Fate. - ASANSIUS, THE LIMPING PILGRIM" (WLW, p184)
I believe that is our only epigram by Asansius in the series, thus far, an anomaly like Ganus the Blind. I think Callan started the thread asserting that whenever something comes across as narrative conceit ("that would only happen in a book, or that's an irregular plot-jump"), we can blame it on Fate conspiring, playing her own mad game. This epigram also suggests to me that Fate is something akin to Ajokli.
We'll have a better idea as soon as Akka gets to the ruins.
Where'd you find your speculative zen ? TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE!
A simple assault with Sranc and Bashrag would have likely failed at first and I don't see them as that great at sustained seigecraft.
If I was a betting man, I'd guess that we'll finally get some Gnosis vs. Gnosis at Dagliash, among other tasty combinations. However, there was a time when I wondered if the Consult would simply contest Dagliash with Weapon Races...
EDIT: Wilshire, I like the analogy but all I can imagine Sranc as now is that stupid Zombie ladder from the World War Z trailer. Btw, Brad Pitt, I don't care about Max Brooks' nameless UN character's origin story! I care about the French fighting in the Catacombs, the Oriental wood walkers, and single shot rifles being the best way to kill
SLOW WALKING zombies... Fucking Hollywood.[/quote]