*SPOILERS* Discussing Chapter 8 (chapter revealed by the great hunt)
RabidWombat Send a noteboard - 17/09/2010 07:01:34 AM
I don't want to steal the thunder of the three posts about this. I am hoping to put a bunch of discussion about the new chapter in one spot.
General Non spoiler thoughts
There is not too much action in this chapter. It is generally about Mat reacting to his new status as a husband. If you like Mat then you will probably like this chapter; although I am sure there will be arguments about how 'Mat-like' Mat is here. There are not too many spoilers in this chapter.
That being said, this chapter definitely hints at things that have occurred earlier in the book. And if you think about it you can get an idea about a number of plot points that probably occur before this chapter.
BS posted a cleaner version of this chapter
* this version says directly that it is chapter 8
* it has a link at the top to a catalog page to include free samples of ToM. Right now that page only has a link to Chapter 8, but it does hint that we might get some more free samples sometime.
SPOILER STUFF BELOW
.
.
.
.
The timeline is seriously horked or our understanding of it is
* In this chapter Mat has been clearly in Caemlyn from between 4 to 10 days and yet 'rumours' clearly point to this being sometime after Egwene being raised. (It has to be more then 3 days since Mat was attacked by footpads in Caemlyn 3 days ago. It can't be more then 10 since Mat is surprised that the Gholem could make it there that fast; Vanin could make it in 10 days.
* This disagrees with Steven Cooper's timeline which has Mat around a month behind Rand and Egwene, but does agree with how tGS is structured in the end.
* This also means Verin went almost directly to the tower and didn't have much time to distribute her letters.
* Someone needs to check Rand's PoVs where he sees Mat in Caemlyn.
ToM is largely caught up to the end of tGS by Chapter 8
* Chapter 8 is apparently after tGS.
Mat is still toying with his letter
* It is kind of amusing to have both Thom and Mat moaning over letters from AS. The parallel makes me more and more suspicious that the 2 AS on a balance are Verin and Moiraine.
* Mat takes his word VERY seriously here.
* Gholam attacks has put pressure on Mat, though to open the letter.
* Thom suggests opening the letter to speed up the wait. Mat thinks that following the directions might take more time.
Mat is beginning to form a plan to take out the Gholam
I will probably see 50 posts ahead of me now, but so far I haven't seen anyone mention that Mat thinks to himself about forming a plan to deal with the Gholam. To me that means the chance that Mat kills the Gholem has went up.
Rumors from the WT
* Clearly indicate that news about the Seanchen attack, Raising of new Amyrillin, Uniting of the tower, and the huge number of new novices has reached Caemlyn and QUICKLY. (I guess the similarity with the true events could be a coincidence but I don't think so.)
* Someone or more than one someones have traveled between the WT and Caemlyn bringing lots of news. Curiously the cleansing of the taint hasn't been mentioned in the rumors.
Teslyn, Edesina, and Joline don't know traveling
* Mat is looking for someone to make a gateway to ToG yet doesn't think of these three.
* Teslyn and Co. are going to travel by horse to TV
* Verin somehow avoided letting them see the weaves!
The Gholam can somehow travel more quickly than Mat expected
* Gholam can run about 2 time speed of horse OR
* Myrdraal can carry it like it can carry a horse
* It can go through gateways somehow.
Teslyn said thank you to Mat
* Nice and short chat with Mat.
* Both are coming to like and respect each other.
Perrin is not in Caemlyn
* Perrin, presumably has access to more traveling chanellers now, since Nynaeve and Cadsuane went to pick up Tam.
Elayne did not respond to Mat's request to meet with her
* Particularly odd given that Elayne prayed for both Mat and Thom in CoT and KoD.
* May indicate that Elayne is away:
* In Tar Valon being tested and raised
* Dealing with BT
* In Cairhien putting forth her claim
* Dealing with Perrin
* Touring Andor
* OR may indicate that she is very busy (and/or warned away by Verin?)
* Thom seems to think this is a reasonable possibility
* I don't agree
* OR Elayne is just being a prick.
That darn cliffhanger
* Any ideas about whose blood Mat smells when he opens the flap?
There is probably at least a few things that will make more sense after we read the intervening chapters.
General Non spoiler thoughts
There is not too much action in this chapter. It is generally about Mat reacting to his new status as a husband. If you like Mat then you will probably like this chapter; although I am sure there will be arguments about how 'Mat-like' Mat is here. There are not too many spoilers in this chapter.
That being said, this chapter definitely hints at things that have occurred earlier in the book. And if you think about it you can get an idea about a number of plot points that probably occur before this chapter.
BS posted a cleaner version of this chapter
* this version says directly that it is chapter 8
* it has a link at the top to a catalog page to include free samples of ToM. Right now that page only has a link to Chapter 8, but it does hint that we might get some more free samples sometime.
SPOILER STUFF BELOW
.
.
.
.
The timeline is seriously horked or our understanding of it is
* In this chapter Mat has been clearly in Caemlyn from between 4 to 10 days and yet 'rumours' clearly point to this being sometime after Egwene being raised. (It has to be more then 3 days since Mat was attacked by footpads in Caemlyn 3 days ago. It can't be more then 10 since Mat is surprised that the Gholem could make it there that fast; Vanin could make it in 10 days.
* This disagrees with Steven Cooper's timeline which has Mat around a month behind Rand and Egwene, but does agree with how tGS is structured in the end.
* This also means Verin went almost directly to the tower and didn't have much time to distribute her letters.
* Someone needs to check Rand's PoVs where he sees Mat in Caemlyn.
ToM is largely caught up to the end of tGS by Chapter 8
* Chapter 8 is apparently after tGS.
Mat is still toying with his letter
* It is kind of amusing to have both Thom and Mat moaning over letters from AS. The parallel makes me more and more suspicious that the 2 AS on a balance are Verin and Moiraine.
* Mat takes his word VERY seriously here.
* Gholam attacks has put pressure on Mat, though to open the letter.
* Thom suggests opening the letter to speed up the wait. Mat thinks that following the directions might take more time.
Mat is beginning to form a plan to take out the Gholam
I will probably see 50 posts ahead of me now, but so far I haven't seen anyone mention that Mat thinks to himself about forming a plan to deal with the Gholam. To me that means the chance that Mat kills the Gholem has went up.
Rumors from the WT
* Clearly indicate that news about the Seanchen attack, Raising of new Amyrillin, Uniting of the tower, and the huge number of new novices has reached Caemlyn and QUICKLY. (I guess the similarity with the true events could be a coincidence but I don't think so.)
* Someone or more than one someones have traveled between the WT and Caemlyn bringing lots of news. Curiously the cleansing of the taint hasn't been mentioned in the rumors.
Teslyn, Edesina, and Joline don't know traveling
* Mat is looking for someone to make a gateway to ToG yet doesn't think of these three.
* Teslyn and Co. are going to travel by horse to TV
* Verin somehow avoided letting them see the weaves!
The Gholam can somehow travel more quickly than Mat expected
* Gholam can run about 2 time speed of horse OR
* Myrdraal can carry it like it can carry a horse
* It can go through gateways somehow.
Teslyn said thank you to Mat
* Nice and short chat with Mat.
* Both are coming to like and respect each other.
Perrin is not in Caemlyn
* Perrin, presumably has access to more traveling chanellers now, since Nynaeve and Cadsuane went to pick up Tam.
Elayne did not respond to Mat's request to meet with her
* Particularly odd given that Elayne prayed for both Mat and Thom in CoT and KoD.
* May indicate that Elayne is away:
* In Tar Valon being tested and raised
* Dealing with BT
* In Cairhien putting forth her claim
* Dealing with Perrin
* Touring Andor
* OR may indicate that she is very busy (and/or warned away by Verin?)
* Thom seems to think this is a reasonable possibility
* I don't agree
* OR Elayne is just being a prick.
That darn cliffhanger
* Any ideas about whose blood Mat smells when he opens the flap?
There is probably at least a few things that will make more sense after we read the intervening chapters.
*SPOILERS* Discussing Chapter 8 (chapter revealed by the great hunt)
- 17/09/2010 07:01:34 AM
2553 Views
long arse post 
- 17/09/2010 07:18:13 AM
1147 Views
- 17/09/2010 07:18:13 AM
1147 Views
That golden haired woman in the inn (Clare?) is Birgitte in disguise. Mark me. *NM*
- 17/09/2010 09:51:28 AM
350 Views
Nah, Mat knows Birgitte. And Clare didn't give him a secret smile or anything.
- 17/09/2010 05:15:15 PM
679 Views
Well your post is dammning the possibility of Graendal being involved with Elayne
- 17/09/2010 04:43:31 PM
1220 Views
Also, something is very wrong with this suggested timeline in your post
- 17/09/2010 05:03:50 PM
853 Views
The rumors ring too true to not be based on reality. much more likely that the timeline in the book
- 17/09/2010 05:16:53 PM
881 Views
Re: *SPOILERS* Discussing Chapter 8 (chapter revealed by the great hunt)
- 17/09/2010 05:55:59 PM
724 Views
The rumour is almost certainly just a rumour....
- 17/09/2010 07:41:48 PM
874 Views
Occam's razor suggests you're right...
- 17/09/2010 09:27:48 PM
697 Views