perhaps I missed a detail. Do the gaps move around, or what?
Why don't they just build permanent bridges, or leave the temporary ones up there? The other army (I already forgot their name [baby voidbringers]) can jump over the gaps anyway, so it's not to keep them away. They clearly have no problem getting numbers over the gaps quickly, as they're competing every day for the gems.
Why don't they just build permanent bridges, or leave the temporary ones up there? The other army (I already forgot their name [baby voidbringers]) can jump over the gaps anyway, so it's not to keep them away. They clearly have no problem getting numbers over the gaps quickly, as they're competing every day for the gems.
Three reasons, near as I can tell.
There are so many chasms on the Shattered Plains that building permanent bridges across all of them would be too expensive/time consuming. It's easier/cheaper to have mobile bridges.
Also, considering the fact that all of the highprinces (except for Dalinar, anyway) consider the Vengeance Pact to be nothing more than a contest to get the gemhearts, they don't want to have permanent bridges across all of the chasms, because that would give the other armies chances to reach the gemhearts first.
Lastly, the bridgemen are also used as bait. Sadeas said it himself at least once, and Sigzil figured it out close to the end of the book. By having the bridgemen run at the Parshendi (the word you were looking for) completely unarmored, they make more tempting targets than Sadeas' soldiers. Buying slaves that just have to lift a bridge and run (and are executed if they don't) is a lot cheaper than recruiting and training new soldiers.
If they left permanent bridges up over every chasm the Parshendi could easily burn them down. There's no easier way to get trapped in a small section of islands than to have the bridges burned around you. Then it's easy for the Parshendi to take their time in killing everyone there. If they had permanent bridges they wouldn't bring the portable ones and would know the bridges were burned until it was too late.
Kirk: Spock, you want to know something? Everybody’s human.
Spock: I find that remark…insulting.
Spock: I find that remark…insulting.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson: Reaction & Discussion Thread
03/09/2010 04:25:24 PM
- 3686 Views
About time! Let me finish first and I will be back here first thing *NM*
03/09/2010 09:17:03 PM
- 725 Views
Just got it last night and I am looking forward to starting it
03/09/2010 09:32:01 PM
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I have the book as well but I don't know when I'll start/finish it *NM*
03/09/2010 10:05:51 PM
- 631 Views
I'm anout 325 pages into it and I've gotta say... *SPOILERS*
04/09/2010 04:35:41 AM
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Why do they need bridgemen? spoilers
05/09/2010 04:07:20 AM
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Re: Why do they need bridgemen? spoilers
05/09/2010 01:37:08 PM
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Also, Don't forget...
05/09/2010 03:03:04 PM
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This is my favorite point (and the one that makes me feel stupid). Thanks *NM*
05/09/2010 08:07:42 PM
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Tavi makes good point also, but this is the one that stick out to me during a bridge run scene. *NM*
05/09/2010 08:22:43 PM
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Exactly, why don't they just... *spoilers*
09/09/2010 04:07:43 AM
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Chasmfiends and highstorms. The storms are worse eastward in /w maybe enuff force to pulverize rock.
09/09/2010 09:06:10 AM
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The wooden permanent bridges seemed to work just fine.
09/09/2010 03:31:58 PM
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Keep in mind, though
09/09/2010 03:41:00 PM
- 1408 Views
So maybe it'll be something the new Highprince of War will commission.
09/09/2010 04:08:56 PM
- 1355 Views
I caved and bought this from Amazon today.
06/09/2010 04:29:23 AM
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Re: I caved and bought this from Amazon today.
07/09/2010 03:11:14 PM
- 1246 Views
Do these pretty symbols in the front and back of this book play any sort of role in the story?
06/09/2010 10:33:01 AM
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I have some ideas about glyphs, the nature of power, and plot elements(some heavy theorizing)
08/09/2010 03:34:32 PM
- 1103 Views
Dear lord did anybody even bother to edit this book?
07/09/2010 02:23:23 PM
- 1284 Views
I was worried that they'd miss a lot of those.
07/09/2010 02:30:11 PM
- 1285 Views
Agreed. Also, I'm thinking the book didn't change at all from the ARC
07/09/2010 02:37:33 PM
- 1147 Views
I liked it, however the main character seemed "familiar" ...
07/09/2010 04:01:43 PM
- 1390 Views
Random question on Syl (Spoilers of course)
07/09/2010 11:55:32 PM
- 1265 Views
Szeth does see spren
09/09/2010 04:14:27 AM
- 1391 Views
It's been a few days since I finished it and I am still suffering withdrawal symptoms. T_T *NM*
10/09/2010 09:00:38 PM
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The bridges.
12/09/2010 01:42:11 AM
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The bridges were arched and were much longer than the chasms *NM*
12/09/2010 03:30:48 AM
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How does that keep them from toppling when they are pushed over the edge of the chasms, though? *NM*
12/09/2010 02:23:32 PM
- 626 Views
Think about it
12/09/2010 05:17:07 PM
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I don't see.
12/09/2010 06:18:22 PM
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Agreed. I spent a couple hours thinking about it yesterday and came to the same conclusion.
13/09/2010 01:54:45 PM
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The plateau tops are not all level.
13/09/2010 04:41:17 PM
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Re: The plateau tops are not all level.
13/09/2010 05:53:04 PM
- 1199 Views
Reading/Map Reading
18/09/2010 09:12:20 AM
- 1213 Views