Well and good. I think the Gods are largely neutralized while the No-God is functional, but we shall see.

@SmilerLoki, I included those quotes already.

I have no idea how you conclude that Gods with Alzeihmers can do anything. We're talking about an inability to grasp or form memories in creatures that depend entirely on the memories they harvest from souls.

No more babies = no more souls. Maybe they can peer uncomprehendingly through birds or whatnot, but I don't believe the Gods can intercede from the outside.

Yep, the Nogod might be responsible.

I should also mention that I meant to say 'decapitants', burrito correct had other plans.

Edit; ffs, autocorrect

I don't think Celmomas was saved at all. Seems like no one gets saved while the No-god walks. The Gods can't perceive the World at all.

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Has Resumption bared the rest of the Hundred from interferring in the real world?

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The Gods are pretty much witless now. Imagine a virus erasing your memories and your meta-memories simultaneously. Theological Alzheimers.

The source and method of delivery of the Celmoman Prophecy is entirely suspect. (Shows Kellhus from the future quite clearly, delivered whilst the No-god is rendering the Gods witless.) The only way it comes from the Gods is via Ajokli if he is immanent during the Apocalypse - which is merely my own speculation.


Re: Serwa; being seen as Ciphrang is not confirmed as being quite the same as damnation.

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What is the significance of those the Judging Eye sees as ciphrang? Is this a sign of deep sin (extra-toasty damnation) or transcendent spiritual power?

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Yes.

Yes implies an 'and/or' answer.


I don't think the Consult are correct in their overall interpretation of the fate of souls in the outside (outside of their own). In The False Sun Aurang also tells Tirtirga Oblivion is impossible and that everyone is damned.

“You worship the spaces between the Gods ...”

“Yes.”

A rasp like the screams of faraway children tangled in the wind. Inchoroi laughter. “You are already damned. All of you are already damned.”

“So say you.”

A deep chested rumble. Popping mucous. “So says the Inverse Fire.”

...

All Men wailed. All Men burned all the time. They need only die to realize it.

Bakker, R. Scott. The Unholy Consult: Book Four of the Aspect-Emperor series (Aspect Emperor 4) (Kindle Locations 11936-11937). Little, Brown Book Group. Kindle Edition.

I believe the Consult and the Dunyain are both clearly shown to be wrong about many things in TGO and TUC. The Truth they hold is just a part of the whole - and there are many other Truths that they deny.

Given the origins of the Inchoroi as outlined in TUC, we should remember that the Inverse Fire is primarily there to ensure they perform the Task the progenitors have set.

I had a bit of a think on this and have arrived at an answer that I think is satisfactory.

To begin, there are two things we can infer from Bakker's statements here;
1. He thinks it is something fairly obvious that many have missed.
2. It's not important enough for him to instantly clarify it.

For me, this induction rules out convoluted theories that defy contradiction like the one Hogman puts forward.

A far more straightforward explanation that follows from the points that Bakker is responding to is that the membership of the Consult is more fluid than people are assuming.

Their history actually points towards them being a lot more active in recruiting than simply maintaining the core membership. Ieva, the Aporetics, the Mangaecca, the Bardic Priest and other operatives who did things like destroying the White Fleet. For whatever reason, it seems like they haven't managed the trick of a generic method to provide immortality for humans.

I think they mostly are happy to get important people to join their gang. Aurang has powerful methods of seduction, and if they can get someone to look at the Inverse Fire then they are pretty much on the team. Seems reasonable to think they were confident the Dunyain they got into the Golden Room would join, and Shauriatus was simply jealous of his position as top dog (as per his internal monologue in The False Sun).

Following on from this thought, I really want to know who the Spearman in TUC was. I imagine if he was a sixth Mutilated, Kellhus would have been alerted to them before he entered the Golden Room.

Yes indeed my freind.

Good point Duskweaver. I do think this example was too obtuse and certainly popped me out of the flow on my second read as well as the first while I tried to work out wtf was actually going on. The rest of the battle scenes are extremely engaging and crystal clear compared to this, I felt like had a pretty good idea of the disposition of forces until Ishterberinth suddenly showed up.  And how did they ghost past the Scylvendi anyway?