Um, you realize that's, like, a common saying in the novels, right? He's just one of many to use it.
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Well, I was talking about the books specifically, but I guess that does answer the question: a misreading of that text. That's not a second theory. It's calling the Conjunction itself "bygone times".
ETA: Crap, sorry, forgot to multiquote there.
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No, Vilgefortz is the one who use it multiple time in each of the books. I'm sure other people saw it. I think the author wanted to see its his trademark.
My favorite Vilgefortz quote is "This time you pissed into a tornado !".
But yes, the whole "Don't mistake the night sky for stars reflected in a pond." was used over and over by Vilgefortz.
So often that it appeared as if Sapkowski wanted the reader to make that connection.
But yes, the whole "Don't mistake the night sky for stars reflected in a pond." was used over and over by Vilgefortz.
So often that it appeared as if Sapkowski wanted the reader to make that connection.
Or linking someone like Vilgefortz to Ciri's fate, showing us how he knows acurately about genetic herency of the Princess of Cintra.
Because If I'm not wrong this is a sentence part connected with the original prophecy. Even now I'm linking it with the unicorne, Ciri and the desert... Oh! What a headache!.
2) One location was in the XV century in Europe, the teuton knight, Heinrich von Schwelborn and the Malbork Castle was held by the Teutonic Order. The date... probably near the Battle of Tannenberg.
So, I checked the text, and changed my mind. Sapkowski used a bunch of variations on the phrase in the narration, but other than the Creepy Trance Voice, Vilgefortz was actually the only one to say it. He seems like the best candidate.
new to the forums and the saga. Just got a quick question
regarding the saying 'the sword of destiny has two edges. You are one of them. the other is death'.
i am halfway through the books but still don't quite understand the line
any witcher enthusiasts care to elaborate?
also what is the deal with the raven at the end of the E3 trailer?
regarding the saying 'the sword of destiny has two edges. You are one of them. the other is death'.
i am halfway through the books but still don't quite understand the line
any witcher enthusiasts care to elaborate?
also what is the deal with the raven at the end of the E3 trailer?
@darkslayer101
I can't say that I am perfectly aware of the meaning Sapkowski had in his mind when he wrote that line. But here is my interpretation.
The way I see it is this. There are two factors that influence a persons Destiny. The first one is himself/herself. One's actions shape his/her Destiny, nothing is written down in paper. Nothing except Death. And that is the second factor.
We can only speculate about the raven. Maybe it has something to do with Yennefer, who in the books uses black kestrels. Maybe not.
By the way welcome to the forum. :cheers:
@scryar
1) I will have to agree with @Synvael on this one. Vilgefortz did not have any connection to Ciri whatsoever and it would be quite weird to be able to speak through her. Maybe the "catchphrase" was put there as a hint about who Geralt's and CO. enemy is. A hint for the characters if you will. And even if Vilgefortz would know about Triss' fate in Sodden, he wouldn't be able to predict Coen's and Geralt's deaths, much less the way they would die. So I would say too, that it is the voice of Chaos, speaking through her, reaching out to her.
2)Not sure what you mean by analysis, but here are the places she visited.
3) Just like Vilgefortz, they did not need her child. They needed her to be pregnant so they can remove cells from her womb. But the elves like to "beautify" things, if such an expression could be used in this situation.
4)Hmm I believe they just want the Power to travel in Space and Time. They couldn't care less about the Witcher World, since they know it is a World that is slowly dying. Much like their World. Some people say that the Aen Elle care about the Aen Sheidhe, but I don't think that is the case. Except for Avallac'h. The humans, they would turn into slaves. But it is evident that they have enough slaves. And about why Eredin hunts down humans in the Witcher World, that would be a huge speculative spoiler.
Also Avallac'h does hate humans, but he is able to look past that hate.
5) Witchers are humans, mutated by Mages, so that they have the strength, speed and agility to fight the new monsters that came into the Witcher World, after the COnjunction of the Spheres. So in a way, the Conjunction of the Spheres is the reason why Witchers came into life.
I can't say that I am perfectly aware of the meaning Sapkowski had in his mind when he wrote that line. But here is my interpretation.
The way I see it is this. There are two factors that influence a persons Destiny. The first one is himself/herself. One's actions shape his/her Destiny, nothing is written down in paper. Nothing except Death. And that is the second factor.
We can only speculate about the raven. Maybe it has something to do with Yennefer, who in the books uses black kestrels. Maybe not.
By the way welcome to the forum. :cheers:
@scryar
1) I will have to agree with @Synvael on this one. Vilgefortz did not have any connection to Ciri whatsoever and it would be quite weird to be able to speak through her. Maybe the "catchphrase" was put there as a hint about who Geralt's and CO. enemy is. A hint for the characters if you will. And even if Vilgefortz would know about Triss' fate in Sodden, he wouldn't be able to predict Coen's and Geralt's deaths, much less the way they would die. So I would say too, that it is the voice of Chaos, speaking through her, reaching out to her.
2)Not sure what you mean by analysis, but here are the places she visited.
a) Some place in Poland or Lithuania during the Teutonic Wars, as previously mentioned.
b) A small town in southern France in the 17th Century.
c) A European Port City, I got the impression it was somewhere in Spain, during the time of the Black Death pandemic. (A small flea from that space and time, got caught up in Ciri's clothes, and since her next destination was Nilfgaard, at the "right" time, the flea infected a mouse and started the Catriona Plague in the Witcher World)
3) Just like Vilgefortz, they did not need her child. They needed her to be pregnant so they can remove cells from her womb. But the elves like to "beautify" things, if such an expression could be used in this situation.
4)Hmm I believe they just want the Power to travel in Space and Time. They couldn't care less about the Witcher World, since they know it is a World that is slowly dying. Much like their World. Some people say that the Aen Elle care about the Aen Sheidhe, but I don't think that is the case. Except for Avallac'h. The humans, they would turn into slaves. But it is evident that they have enough slaves. And about why Eredin hunts down humans in the Witcher World, that would be a huge speculative spoiler.
He is looking for Ciri's child.
5) Witchers are humans, mutated by Mages, so that they have the strength, speed and agility to fight the new monsters that came into the Witcher World, after the COnjunction of the Spheres. So in a way, the Conjunction of the Spheres is the reason why Witchers came into life.
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I'd like to think the raven is simply a personification of death in war here, and its appearance is an emblem of the devastation brought about by the Nilfgaard war, the invasion of the Wild Hunt, and most of all the fateful wielding of the Sword of Destiny.
But the cultural symbolism of ravens is not so simple. They're often messengers (Odin's ravens) or protectors (St. Vincent; the Tower of London), the familiars of a hero (Bran the Blessed) or even the hero himself after death (King Arthur).
With the little context we're given, we can do little but guess. I still think it means the land is so devastated that it's fit only to be food for ravens. Here's a delightful old ballad about the habits of ravens, "The Twa Corbies",
But the cultural symbolism of ravens is not so simple. They're often messengers (Odin's ravens) or protectors (St. Vincent; the Tower of London), the familiars of a hero (Bran the Blessed) or even the hero himself after death (King Arthur).
With the little context we're given, we can do little but guess. I still think it means the land is so devastated that it's fit only to be food for ravens. Here's a delightful old ballad about the habits of ravens, "The Twa Corbies",
[Scots "Corbie" includes ravens, and the ballad is usually understood that way.]
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The raven could also be Yennefer in raven-form.
In the books the sorceresses like to transform into animals (Philippa Eilhart into an owl, for example)
and the raven would be a logical design choice for Yennefer, because of her raven black hair.
In the books the sorceresses like to transform into animals (Philippa Eilhart into an owl, for example)
and the raven would be a logical design choice for Yennefer, because of her raven black hair.
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Many birds are black, and a bird of ill omen that eats carrion from battlefields doesn't recommend itself to me as being like Yennefer. Yennefer's characteristic bird (from A Shard of Ice) is a "black kestrel"; if there were black kestrels, they would be very much unlike ravens. Kestrels are small, graceful birds of prey with a charming voice and manner.
Can somebody help with this, I'm not sure I understand it. It's about Yennefer's involvement with Lara's gene manipulation. Yennefer is 94 years old so how could she have had any part in the manipulation? Even when Francesca Findabar joins in when she was "young"?
Then what also confuses me is that Yennefer part is never explained, it's just mentioned by Triss that she had something to do with it .
Then you have this being thought by Yennefer.
Why, what has she done to make her feel so bad, Yennefer is quite dominant when it comes to her relationship with Geralt, and yet even she feels like she can't look him in the eye, I don't get it. She couldn't have predicted that Ciri would end up teleporting when she brought here to the council on Thaned. And then in the end when they actually meet, this is not even mentioned, I don't remember her apologizing or referring with to this with any behavior (please correct me If I'm wrong).
Then what also confuses me is that Yennefer part is never explained, it's just mentioned by Triss that she had something to do with it .
This is what now unites Yennefer and Francesca, Triss thought feverishly, still avoiding eye contact. The calculation. Because, what they did had something to do with parks and breeding rabbits. Yes, their plans for Ciri and Kovir’s king, although seemingly unlikely, are completely real. They have already done this. They place who they want on the thrones, they create links and dynasties as they wished, as it is more convenient for them. The used charms, potions and aphrodisiacs. The kings and queens enter into foreign marriages, often morganatic, against any plan, intentions and treaties. And then those who want children and should not are administered secret measures to prevent pregnancy. Those who did not want to have children, but it was necessary to do so are instead or the promised cured were given placebos, water with licorice. Hence, all these incredible connections. Calanthe, Pavetta … Ciri. Yennefer was involved in it. And now regrets it. And she is right. Heck, if Geralt finds out about it …
What damn snare entangles this girl? Damn, how can I look in the witcher’s eyes…
@TheDespondentMind
Hmm I think I can answer that. Yennefer is described as a talented sorceress, one that instantly got involved with the chapter of Mages. She was the youngest member.
I believe the chapter, had been trying to mix the descendants of Lara Dorren in secret for quite some time. Yennefer joined in later. She is old enough to take part in Dagorad's and Adalia's marriage. Take a look at this diagram.
(Thanks @EmperorZorn for providing me with the diagram
)
I believe she feels so bad, because she had just realized what the true purpose of "finding the Elder Gene" was. Vilgefortz wants it to gain immeasurable power, and I don't think that the other Mages had something totally different in mind. She can't look the witcher in the eyes and tell him that, she took part in experiments, that had that goal. Much like the experiments that people want to conduct on Ciri.
Hmm I think I can answer that. Yennefer is described as a talented sorceress, one that instantly got involved with the chapter of Mages. She was the youngest member.
I believe the chapter, had been trying to mix the descendants of Lara Dorren in secret for quite some time. Yennefer joined in later. She is old enough to take part in Dagorad's and Adalia's marriage. Take a look at this diagram.
(Thanks @EmperorZorn for providing me with the diagram
I believe she feels so bad, because she had just realized what the true purpose of "finding the Elder Gene" was. Vilgefortz wants it to gain immeasurable power, and I don't think that the other Mages had something totally different in mind. She can't look the witcher in the eyes and tell him that, she took part in experiments, that had that goal. Much like the experiments that people want to conduct on Ciri.
I don't think it's Vilgefortz in particular. She felt guilty because she was partly responsible for Ciri being hunted across the world by, well, practically everyone.
I just popped in to say I have just finished reading Baptism of Fire and wow. Simply amazing. I don't care if the English translations are considered terrible that was an amazing roller coaster
That is all, I just wanted to vent out some of my hype which I am still rolling on. I shall get into real book discussions when I have read the other two. Milva and the company are becoming some of my favorite characters though.
That is all, I just wanted to vent out some of my hype which I am still rolling on. I shall get into real book discussions when I have read the other two. Milva and the company are becoming some of my favorite characters though.
Another one for the Bonfire! We'll be patiently waiting for you to finish!I just popped in to say I have just finished reading Baptism of Fire and wow. Simply amazing. I don't care if the English translations are considered terrible that was an amazing roller coaster
That is all, I just wanted to vent out some of my hype which I am still rolling on. I shall get into real book discussions when I have read the other two. Milva and the company are becoming some of my favorite characters though.
Will you read the fan translated versions of the last two books now? Or will you wait for the official translations?
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