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Re: Take two Datakim Send a noteboard - 18/05/2010 07:11:08 PM

Perhaps. I think that there are any number of ways that the duel could go down, and I'm not sure why you are focusing on scenarios in which something would go wrong for the prophecies. Like I said, I think it most likely that Rand will manage to give the first fatal blow. With only one arm, he'll be defenseless against Gawyn's counterstroke (it has nothing to do with back-turning...just swordplay).


The point I was making is that Rand presumably would not think being killed by Gawyn would fullfill a prophecy, even if in reality it would, so he would/should do all in his power to prevent it or if its too late and he is already dying, to undo it.

I will say that obviously if your theory is correct and Gawyn killing Rand is a fullfillment of prophecy then obviously things will just "work out" in such a way. I am just pointing out potential logic flaws and things that I would probably bring up even if it DID happen because the more consistent and rational the book is, the better I like it.

As for being one-armed, how will that make him more vulnerable to a counterstroke? I am not sure I understand. I mean it would not really matter if his sword is one or two handed, if it is stuck in Gawyn and Gawyn still has the strength to strike back he could do that even if Rand had both his hands. So presumably this is something Rand knows and is already trained and prepared for.


As I said in my post, I think it will be a proper duel. It's probably impossible to predict the exact conditions; I don't see why you would expect me to when there are any number of situations in which it would make sense. It may be a simple matter of honor, accepting the challenge to a duel...or it might be something Gawyn pulls out of Andoran law, like Galad did with Whitecloak law.


The thing is I have trouble with many of those conditions.

I mean this is Rand here, the dragon reborn, the one human being that stands between the world and the complete destruction of reality itself. Gawyn could challenge Rand, but for Rand to agree to a duel that could kill him (and therefore the entire universe) would be stupidity on such a colossal scale that I simply cannot believe Rand would do it.

This is twice as true when we consider that Rand is not only innocent of the crime that Gawyn is accusing him about, but also KNOWS that Morgase is not even dead at all so the crime is not even real! Rand would not have any reason to feel in any way honorbound to duel Gawyn.

As for Andoran law, Rand should and would simply ignore that. He is under no obligation to follow some silly law when doing so could blow up the universe. Law is a human construct and Rand is dealing with issues much MUCH greater than that. Basically, his status in the universe obligates him to ignore such laws. And he has ignored such laws before for the purpose of winning over the DO. I mean he ruled over Caemlyn quite a while despite the fact that Andoran law says that the ruler has to be a woman.

I could maybe buy this if Rand was some average joe or something, but he is not. His survival is vital to the survival of the world and he knows it. I simply cannot accept that the new sane Rand/LTT would agree to this kind of utter foolishness from Gawyn. I doubt that even mad!Rand would have.


This is rather obvious. But it doesn't mean that Rand can't hang. He fought five at once with two hands, in Caemlyn.


None of those five men were even close to being a blademaster, let alone someone at the level Gawyn is described at being in TGS. Not to mention that if I recall correctly, Rand lost that fight.

It also occurs to me that if there is actually a real fight where Rand can "hang" on then he would have time to strike Gawyn down indirectly with OP, penetrating the protection offered by the medallion.


It indicates that Rand fears he will be killed by his first instinct; he even emphasizes the fact that it's not his primary sword hand. It's a rather odd thought, actually, since most of the situations in which his life will be in danger will not involve swordsmen, much less skilled ones. I see it as foreshadowing of his duel with Gawyn.


But it also suggests that Rand has not infact been retraining himself to fight one-handed and his belief that he will have little chance in an actual duel against anyone even remotely skilled due to this.


Also, later in the book, there is another quote in Min's point of view that indicates he is getting used to the one hand thing:

*SNIP QUOTE*

Just buttons...but Rand is smart enough to be more critical than cocky when it comes to the vulnerability in his sword technique.


I would say that learning to button a shirt with one hand is a MASSIVE difference from learning a completely new type of swordfighting. Especially so since we don't have even a single mention at TGS that Rand is even trying to do so. He spends more time looking for Graendal and messing with politics. Surely if Rand had been spending hours and hours relearning the sword, it would have been mentioned atleast once.
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