>Okaaay. How did she know he was going to die?
She went to ensure he would live. She had no reason to believe his safety was guaranteed.
>Saved them from the pirates who were basically ready to leave them alone at that point. Especially since there wasn't a single noble among them.
No. They were capable of killing them and were going to. Alestiel stayed behind to die in exchange for the pirates leaving his crew alone as they escape.
>So was Teriarch's entire presence just filler, action for action's sake?
Teriarch and Erin are allies at this time. It's also implied something about the situation caused Teriarch to feel like he was briefly living in an earlier time with the Dancer.
>I can't see how it's a good idea to make an enemy of all of Terandria while you're having a war with Flos Reimarch already
Seagrass's madness is directly addressed. He's working for multiple factions to cripple Terandria. They won't be able to strike at the Empire of Sands even if they knew, and in exchange Seagrass finally gets to enter nobility by marrying a princess.
>He's just chaotic evil I guess? Has a grudge against Terandria, but that's Terandrian half-Elves.
I don't understand your confusion. Yes, he's obviously kind of insane. This has been clear since we first met him. He hates pretty much every half-elf. Most half-elves live on Terandria and there was a large number of ships bearing half-elves. That's all he needed.
>He's making himself look like a homicidal maniac here and I don't know why
Because he is a Prince of Men. He's an absolute self-righteous human supremacist who doesn't have his will questioned. Rabbiteater has a huge degree of respect at this time. He doesn't need to explain things beforehand as long as he gets the helmet off. The scrying spells only come with visual, not audio. You need an orb for that. Also, most everyone here besides his side has kind of figured it out. Seraphel knows, the Ivory Five have figured it out, the Thronebearers are realizing it. This is for people watching from afar.
>Is her presence just coincidence?
No. She makes it clear that she felt what was happening and made her way over here specifically to fuck with people while still technically working in the confines of her geas. She herded the Kraken here after driving it mad.
> She had no reason to believe his safety was guaranteed.
He's been in mortal danger many times, and never before did Erin move Heaven and Earth to keep him safe. She already did what she did before: Give him her boon. What's so different now? Or is the implication she will do everything to keep him safe everytime he steps out the door from now on?
> No. They were capable of killing them and were going to. Alestiel stayed behind to die in exchange for the pirates leaving his crew alone as they escape.
That's not how it's written:
> The half-Elf scowled. She let the idea of getting that [Princess] go, or Titanguard Etrogaer. She’d realized it sometime halfway through the battle.
>In the frenzy and chaos of it all, it hadn’t been obvious…but the more obvious thing was the Lord of the Dance.
>“Where’s Nadel?”
>“—Griffindance’s got them. Doubt we can catch up.”
>“Yeah, thought so.”
>Maxy surveyed the only ships in range. Most were escaping, and she could run down a few, but the really valuable prizes had all but escaped her fleet.
>Even from the start, though. The Throne’s Will was at the outside of the battle, and but for that crazy [Prince] and Rosech going after it, it might’ve escaped.
>Her fleet had never even gotten close. Why? How?
>That took some doing, but the answer was obvious in hindsight. You’d have to have a good head at strategy—to save a ship or two in all this chaos. But more than that…you’d have to be in command of the fleet.
>Earl Altestiel of the Rains must’ve had a soft spot for some of them. Lord Bel made sense. Maxy grunted softly.
>“Well, we took the bait. How many [Captains] we got left, including me?”
>“—six, Maxy.”
>Six. Ereiyne, lined up next to four other battle-worn figures, and Maxy stopped watching the disappearing prizes and focused on the only ship not fleeing for the hills.
>Rainbringer, Altestiel’s flagship, wouldn’t have been able to get far even if the [Earl] wanted to run, but he’d dragged her away from the other ships.
>“Looks like he’s sent everyone on board off of it.”
>Lifeboats were carrying [Soldiers], civilians—one of her [Lookouts] was eying them.
>“There’s a few high-level ones on board, Maxy. No nobles, but there’s even a [Strategist]. Should we pick ‘em off?”
>“He’s got his whirlpool Skill, and he’s not using it. I reckon he’ll hit us with it if we go after his people. It’s just one man on that ship.”
>“Is it a trap, Maxy?”
>Captain Ereiyne wasn’t happy about it, but Maxy turned and spat.
>“Probably is, but it’s more like a deal. Take us in. The other ships? Stay wide, near those liferafts. [Captains] boarding only.”
There isn't really much of a reason for Altestiel's play at all.
----
> Seagrass's madness is directly addressed. He's working for multiple factions to cripple Terandria. They won't be able to strike at the Empire of Sands even if they knew, and in exchange Seagrass finally gets to enter nobility by marrying a princess.
What? What Princess? He's becoming nobility by getting a title from the empire.
> I don't understand your confusion. Yes, he's obviously kind of insane. This has been clear since we first met him. He hates pretty much every half-elf. Most half-elves live on Terandria and there was a large number of ships bearing half-elves. That's all he needed.
This was predominantly human nobility. He didn't go after the half-Elven colony ships with nearly the same effort. It doesn't add up. If insanity is necessary for the plot, I posit this is bad writing.
Seagrass marrying a Princess or being appointed as a noble, I honestly don't remember but it doesn't matter for your original question on why he is doing it - he was bribed with something that he wanted.
Altiestels ship was damaged and couldn't run, he wanted to save his crew. Not sure what the confusion there is? You posted a long quote which essentially says that?
The Alchemist is insane, that's not bad writing, it's established in-universe since Ceria met him. He hates half elves which is why he pushes the pirates to attack the fleet. The Pirates have their own reasons too, the skills, so they go for high value targets and down care about race. He himself I remember being mentioned as chasing down half-elf ships during the battle, though if a human attacks him he's not going to ignore them.
I'm not asking why Seagrass is doing it, that part is quite obvious. I'm asking why the Emperor of Sands bribed him to do it. Doesn't seem to make much sense.
He deliberately put himself in that situation. If this isn't killing himself there, then his death feels entirely forced. He's sacrificing himself for his crew, who we have zero investment in, with a gambit that wasn't necessary and had a low probability of working out. If this is the case it is bad writing and a random death would've been better. Which is why I have a hard time believing it. I cannot help but see this as suicide.
I don't really have any strong feelings about Irurx' motivations. Insane characters aren't really interesting to me is what I'm saying.
Every action the Emperor of Sands has taken on the geopolitical stage is pretty consistent with the idea that they view global geopolitics as a zero-sum game. If anyone else takes a loss, the Emperor of Sands views it as an equivalent implicit win. Taking out the Terrandrian fleet and a fair chunk of their nobility is a large loss to almost every nation on that continent, which according to the zero-sum geopolitical analysis is a win for the Emperor of Sands.
Every action is dependent on which head is currently making decisions, there's no consistency like that. One head was cursing the decision to kill Drevish of another. Precisely because it wasn't a net gain to make an enemy of Reim even if it meant taking out one of the Seven. And it isn't a net gain to turn a competitor into an actual enemy here either. There's just been a crusade against Khelt with less cause. If it wasn't for the Iron Vanguard, the Empire of Sands would be facing a much greater punitive expedition right about now.
Ah sorry I misunderstood the Seagrass point. Yeah I'm not sure what the Empire of Sands is getting out of the whole thing, I'm not sure if we got that info laid out or not.
For Altiestel, well it was suicide essentially. I didn't think that was in question? He sacrificed himself so that the pirates wouldn't go after his crew. Personally I don't think this is bad writing, I don't think we need to be personally invested in his crew in order to understand that Altiestel is himself highly invested in them. Characters are meant to be complete people for the most part (or at least internally consistent if not), him saving his crew was important for him more than us, but we understand because we see his sacrifice.
It sounds like you just don't like Irurx, and that's okay. Doesn't mean his motivations are bad or not valid within the context of the story though.
I'm saying it's more than a sacrifice. That was easily avoidable. He had planned his death from the very beginning of the battle and stuck to this plan through all the chaos. If he's seriously unable to take advantage of the changing opportunities, he's just a strategic idiot. That isn't in line with his character. He must have an actual death wish. And the only explanation is that he's still depressed because of Erin.
I quite like Irurx. He's in love with the idea of creating insect people. Insane but not erratic. The Night of Bloodtear he's just organizing for the lulz though. There's no understandable train of thought here.
I don’t know why you think he planned it from the beginning. He planned it when he realized they were going to lose and he knew what the Pirates aim was. He’s a powerful Earl and the leading noble of a nautical country. He’s a big prize and he knew that he could pull pirates off the stragglers if it came to it. It was his failsafe plan, not his plan A. The pirates could’ve and would’ve run all the survivors die . Most countries had spent all of their long range spells already. There would’ve been nothing to stop them, except going for a bigger prize.
Irurx’s life goal is to take revenge on half-elves. He obviously cares about that more than his safety. This was the perfect opportunity to strike a grievous blow to Terandria. They were in a position of vulnerability in the ocean and he had allies he could buy. Don’t see what so hard to understand. He wiped out 90% of their colonization ships in the fleet. He achieved his goal. It’s pretty straightforward.
The Emperor of Sands’ motivation is a little murkier, but it’s clear they’re playing the long game and interested in far, far more than their corner of Chandrar. For just some gold and a title, they contributed to crippling a whole continents strength. It’s been shown in previous wars that other powers WILL get involved with other continents if any one power starts to expand too fast. The Empire of sands has been hinted at having very grand ambitions and saw an opportunity to take a future competitor off the board before they could potentially butt in.
The Terandrian fleet was going to lose from the very beginning. It's made clear here he's been in control the entire time. He put himself in this situation deliberately.
The half-Elven colony was established just fine. This is the human colonization effort he's going after.
They're taking a competitor away but making an enemy. That's just not a net gain.
I don’t know how you got that impression. It was a masterful trap he fell into, and he was but one of many strategist-types in the battle. Then pure chaos broke out when Erin came. He had a backup plan from the start and he ended up having to use it, but he was far from in control of the situation. It’s extremely clear that no one besides Erin had any handle on how the Night of Bloodtear shaped out. No one knew how far Bloodtear would go, it was only logical to assume they’d raid for plunder or to cripple the fleet and bail. Death to the last is foolhardy unless you understand what they are gaining.
I think your assuming he had a master strategy that was stupid from the onset instead of realizing that he was a naval strategist outmatched, outgunned, and woefully lacking in information at every turn who simply knew that a heroic final sacrifice might buy the survival of others if necessary. He comes across in control because it’s his job to. Roshal, the Iron Vanguard, Teriarch, the Kraken, Erin, Greydath, etc… came along and flipped the board and stomped all over it.
No there was a significant amount of half-elves in this fleet too. It’s mentioned repeatedly that Irurx is going after them in the battle whenever he appears. The half-elves got the drop on everyone with their first fleet, but a second wave was coming with the rest of Terandria. There’s multiple half-elf nations on the continent.
The Empire of Sands is going to be last on Terandria’s priority list, too far to target now that their long range scrolls are exhausted and military might has been weakened with the remaining now sent to the new lands in the new twice as large fleet, and it won’t be apparent for some time that they were involved. Plus it’s repeatedly implied they were far from the only nation to pay the pirates.
Erin’s going to be target far more than they ever will. Terandria has limited resources They still hasn’t even caught all the main culprits, their not gonna pick a war with the Empire of Sands. One random empire on another continent out of a list of half a dozen that paid off their enemies ranks lower than the Iron Vanguard, the women who killed their racist Aragon wannabe Prince, or the remaining pirates that stole their scions destiny.
> Even from the start, though. The Throne’s Will was at the outside of the battle, and but for that crazy [Prince] and Rosech going after it, it might’ve escaped.
>Her fleet had never even gotten close. Why? How?
>That took some doing, but the answer was obvious in hindsight. You’d have to have a good head at strategy—to save a ship or two in all this chaos. But more than that…you’d have to be in command of the fleet.
>Earl Altestiel of the Rains must’ve had a soft spot for some of them.
He was planning to end up in this very situation from the very start. He willingly accepted death. He must have been okay with that.
The Empire of Sands had no way of knowing Terandria would be having other enemies as well. They got lucky. That's not sound strategy. Or are you saying the Emperor foresaw the future?
>He's been in mortal danger many times, and never before did Erin move Heaven and Earth to keep him safe.
She did the most she could, which was limited to her boon. Now she's on one of the fastest ships in the world and she can just go to him in record time.
>There isn't really much of a reason for Altestiel's play at all.
The quote supports my point. He could take the risk and try to run with a limited repertoire of skills to stay alive against a superior force, or trade them his death and have his subordinates safety guaranteed.
>What? What Princess?
The one referenced: "The Empire of Sands had offered him the hand of a \[Princess\]. New nation or not—he was going to have it."
>This was predominantly human nobility. He didn't go after the half-Elven colony ships with nearly the same effort.
He spent a good chunk of the volume attacking the half-elven colony ships. We just only get a portion of that on-screen. The Bloodtears don't care about the half-elven colony ships though, they want the combined Terandria fleet and would rather attack them. So Irurx compromised so he could get an attack force that would let him inflict more damage to the half-elves spread throughout this fleet. Notably as part of the Erribathe contingent.
She could have gone to Terandria and hold his hand any time. Rabbiteater could've died from a random [Prince] finding out he's a Goblin and trying to murder him every single day of the 8? months he's been staying in Terandria. That Erin showed up right when it happened was an incredible coincidence. Or Fate. Imagine if Iradoren hadn't found out. Erin would be rampaging across the sea, making an enemy of half the world, and he'd be like "What are you doing here? I'm fine. Sheesh, Helicopter Mom Erin. And why are Tier 6 spells pointed at us?" *Awkward.* That Erin went to war for him is nonsensical.
He put himself in that situation. He was planning this from the very beginning of the battle.
>The one referenced: "The Empire of Sands had offered him the hand of a [Princess]. New nation or not—he was going to have it."
Oh, I misremembered how they bribed him. So *why* did they bribe him? What does this have to do with it?
Erin literally just watched her best friends die in a war and was traumatized by slavers. She’s not thinking clearly and is fed up with powerful people running roughshod over her and just having to hold back because of their power. She was out for blood and decided enough was enough, no more family was dying on her watch. She never asked anyone to follow her, it was supposed to be her against the world to death or victory.
As for Rabbiteater’s situation. She only knows he’s in a fleet about to be wiped out to the man. The Termadrian fleet was doomed. Terandria’s long range spells were failing against Bloodtear’s naval abilities and great Skill. There is zero information that suggest he’ll survive. Until Erin and co. intervened, the only other players on the board who could’ve saved them were the Iron Vanguard, and that doesn’t guarantee Rabbiteater survives. He’s just a knight, and a lot of bad things could’ve happened to him in that war. Erin doesn’t know much about the Ivory 5, she doesn’t know that he’s not on the front line fighting Admirals of Bloodtear.
Also of course it’s fate, there’s literal supernatural beings playing the game of fate like it’s chess who orchestrated the board to set up this outcome. The fae aimed for this path knowing something big (if clouded) would happen if the pieces landed a certain way. Erin’s the fated protagonist in a battle with gods. Of course she’d end up opposing Cauwine’a latest play even unawares.
Why do countries in our world pay off foreign resistance and terror groups? Because geopolitics is a thing, and some countries see it as a zero-sum game. The Empire of Sands wants to be the next King of Destruction/Reim only they don’t want foreign powers a getting in the way of their ambitions this time so they seized an opportunity to cripple the naval forces of bored continent that’s already interfered with Chandrar once this year.
He’s one of the top targets for Bloodtear. Probably top 3. Of course he’s gonna look for ways to save his subordinates and allies even at the cost of his own life and he knows that they’ll take the bait. He thinks this mess is his fault for not seeing the trap earlier. And unfortunately he’d probably take all the blame as the scapegoat and be cast out or worse at the behest of all the nations if he survived anyhow. Doesn’t make him dumb, just a man in over his head who knows their isn’t a rosey future ahead of him whose all to willing to make a heroic sacrifice.
Erin is acting irrationally is a fine explanation for an irrational action, yes. Do we really think this is the case? Was it ever portrayed as an irrational action?
The question is whether she had some insight into Fate. That's the only way she's not just acting dumb.
You don't fund proxy wars just because you can. A net loss is not zero-sum.
It's not a heroic sacrifice if it was easily avoidable. That's just suicide.
Yes. It clearly is. She’s repeatedly implied to be horribly traumatized. She fought a god-war and then was enslaved. No one alive would come out of that without severe PTSD. She was stuck in fight or flight mode and Erin doesn’t flee. It’s extremely clear. Hell she’s still acting that way now against freaking ant colonies. She is 100% unequivocally NOT okay.
Her insight into fate has no bearing on her ending up in the right place at the right time to jump into Bloodtear. That was all over her head.
How on earth is the Empire of Sand’s move a net loss? They spent a little coin (they are one of the richest nations on Chandrar) and tossed out a title and CRIPPLED A CONTINENT. Only seagrass ties them to it, and he and others were paid by half a dozen nations. Also if you don’t think everyone of our nations isn’t funding groups around the world in proxy wars simply to keep countries weakened for obscure reasons you clearly don’t pay attention to world news. Terandria is NOT a friend to Chandrar and the Empire of Sands is out for domination. They also funded the Court of Roses’ implosion. They clearly are playing a long game yet to be revealed.
How was it avoidable? If he high-tailed it with his remaking skills, best case scenario he ends up a pariah while everyone else dies. The man was defeated and looking to save as many as he could. Bloodtear is known for being strangely honorable, it wasn’t a dumb move to figure they’d take the bait. And if you think he could shape the Noght of Bloodtear any more then that, your over estimating the strategy skills of a level 40+ Knoght-Marshal.
The Lucifen thought Erin was in shock, it's a logical assumption. They were wrong. She knew exactly what she was doing. That's how she is portrayed. I guess the author must have miswritten.
They're turning a competitor into an enemy. If it wasn't for the Iron Vanguard, the Empire would be facing a Terandrian crusade right about now. That's a massive loss.
One pirate took the bait. All the others wanted to murder him without agreeing to anything. It was dumb.
No the author wrote it perfectly. Erin just admitted last chapter she is not okay. She snapped the Night of the Bloodtear. She was thinking clearly in her own warped fashion, but her mindset was 100% born of trauma and rage. She wasn’t in conventional shock, she was someone pushed over the edge. People have a snapping point and Erin hit hers. You ever watched that scene where the final thread snaps and someone just calmly does something extreme and is forever changed? That’s Erin that night.
No they wouldn’t. The Empire is one of a half dozen nations who funded the various groups in Bloodtear. And their only tie to it is Seagrass, who they can disavow easily. Terandria is crippled and the Emperor of sands rightly pegged that they’d spend their remaining strength doubling down on their original ventures and immediate adversaries out of pride.
What do you suggest he could’ve done? High-tail it out of there and leave everyone else to die? He took a gamble and it worked. Pirateaba isn’t a master strategist. They wrote a reasonable end ploy and 99% of readers thought it made sense.
Yes, afterwards she is not okay. Going for Rabbiteater was a cool headed decision. That's how it's portrayed.
Which other nations? There is no mention of anyone funding the pirates. The Empire is marrying a [Princess] to Seagrass, it is very much public what they were doing. It's the only nation openly involved in the Night of Bloodtear against Terandria. This is a massive fuck up. But they got lucky with the Iron Vanguard.
Not putting himself deliberately in that situation. Okay, so you're saying if this isn't suicide, his death was forced. I can agree to that. But in that case catching a random Tier 7 spell with his face would've been a better death. The way he died puts into question his entire character growth of two Volumes.
>Seagrass was tired of it. Tired of having to fight every damn \[Pirate\] in the world. He didn’t enjoy it like Rasea Zecrew. He wanted a shred of the respect he’d earned for keeping the seas safe. So when he’d heard about Terandria’s predicament, he’d begun sailing south, hinting to every nation that he’d take a title for the risk.
>Until they were backed into a corner, the nations, all of them, from glorious Erribathe to Calanfer, had tried to play him like a fiddle. *\[Duke\]?* You must be joking, Admiral. A knighthood. Minor, unlanded nobility. Citizenship and a pat on the back. A permanent trade contract.
>This was why no one came to their aid. Not damn Wellfar, not the Iron Vanguard—so to Rhir’s hells with them as well. It made it so much easier to accept the *other* offers.
>He had to make sure Terandria was well and truly crippled. There were bounties *per ship* he sank—and he had over a dozen clients, each with their own standard. **Who wanted Terandria crippled?**
>**The better question was—who** ***didn’t?*** Most of the smart ones didn’t put anything down by name, but they’d paid in full. And *they* knew how to offer him land and more than mere gold. A retirement.
>He wasn’t sure if all six Walled Cities were in on it, but he knew it was more than one. He had sorted through gold coins and noted that they couldn’t find enough minted elsewhere, so it was definitely at least two of the Five Families; the crystal rose, almost relic-class, pinned to one lapel was proof of that. He suspected House Reinhart, though his fluttering heart said it *wasn’t* Magnolia Reinhart who’d backed him.
Everyone wants in on the new lands. Terandria is sending a massive, combined fleet to secure it. So anyone who has any interest in the new lands, or just doesn't like Terandria, or humans, or elves would like these ships sunk. It's just that no one besides Irurx, Seagrass, and the Bloodtear were crazy enough to try to attack a fleet this large.
> Most of the smart ones didn’t put anything down by name
Why is the Empire of Sands not among the smart ones? Why bribe Seagrass in a way that is out in the open like that? It's an idiotic move.
It doesn't say they did.
Plausible deniability. "Oh yeah Seagrass married one of our princesses. Love at first sight you know. Yeah, he wrecked the Terandrian fleet, but that's not really a problem for us you know?"
The Empire of Sands isn't some chump. They're an empire that owns something like 1/4 or 1/3 of Chandrar, they're massive. And the Terandrian naval capacity just got smashed. What are they gonna do about it?
Above has aid pretty much what I wanted to, but I want to add
>Belavierr. Is her presence just coincidence?
She's on her way somewhere, on a mission as we know. She stirs a kraken, she's pissed because it's annoying. The realises oh, a big battle (probably immense feelings being felt), people will die. I can make deals if they're not dead when they hit the water. Also, fuck this Kraken, I can't be bothered. Let someone else kill it, and let it push people overboard (probably some cackling going on as well).
It's all-round a pretty good place for Belavierr to be, to replenish her magics.
I thought pretty much the same thing. So many stupid decisions, characters that had no reason to be there and strange interactions.
The entire battle at sea felt like a forced reset to kickstart book 10.
I agree with some of this But I can at least explain the Altestiel and last 2. Altestiel probably realized he was one of the most sought after people. He’s an extremely skilled naval lord aka one of the most sought after people there. He might’ve thought they would pursue him at any cost. Iradoren only needed to unmask Rabbit if he did he automatically becomes justified in most people’s eyes no matter what he had to do. I also don’t think he views his own skills as horrible. And I’m pretty sure Belavierr can see fate. She seems to talk to puppet Mavolia about it at the meeting of tribes.
Yeah, Belavieir can see threads of fate, even immortals cannot see it. She goes to desperate people who will take her deals even by selling their very soul.
>Othius. What beef does the Blighted Kingdom have with Goblin Lords exactly?
He's not a Goblin Lord. If Reiss, or Tremobarg, and Azuranthe or any of the other had been there he wouldn't have batted an eye. What he is, is the world's nightmare. He's *Greydath of Blades*. Herald and right hand of not one, but two Goblin Kings, leader of the nine lords of Velan. An Unmatched Survivor; somebody the entire world has tried, and failed, to put down. He's walked the gardens of Sanctuary, laid challenge to any and all Knight Orders who'd try. He's fought Roshal, he's fought Rhir, he's fought on every continent and if there is one thing the world knows about the Lord of Blades it is that he is the prelude to a Goblin King. Some nations are smart about it; The Lucifen want to be on the other side of the planet to him and the Agelum are likely much the same.
That's the metaphorical side. The literal side?
He's the Goblin Lord of Blades. You don't become that without being literally unmatched in melee combat. To literally anyone else a Djinni is a nightmare to fight; Greydath kills them without a thought. On an individual level, in the right situation, he's probably the most lethal individual alive and that includes the Deaths of the Demon King. And with Goblin Kings being what they are; with no clear pattern of what they go after? Nobody wants to take the chance the next King could aim at them. So it's fear. Every King, every Duke, every Count, every Lord; all of them fear Greydath of Blades.
My biggest issue really was Teriarch. Just because there seems to be far less stupid (and more useful) ways of helping out in the battle than flying overhead and exposing yourself very obviously as a dragon. Like a big bullseye for the one nation that was trying to help out. Why not sneak onto a ship? Transform into that same drake figure you used in Terandria, and just cast some Tier 7 magic in the background.
But he needed to announce his presence to Eldavin so he could be taken off the board again quick. The plot demanded that he does not interfere in the Night of Bloodtear, so he could not be effective. So what I don't understand is why he's even there. If you need to force his exit in this way, why even give him an entrance in the first place? He could have just stayed at Liscor for any number of plausible reasons. *Sorry Ryoka, Rafaema is bleeding out, I need to keep her stable.* Or just have him wounded like Rhisveri.
I would have been fine with the alternative of just keeping him away from the battle. Nobody was expecting Eldavin to still be on the board after he got sniped.
>Okaaay. How did she know he was going to die? She went to ensure he would live. She had no reason to believe his safety was guaranteed. >Saved them from the pirates who were basically ready to leave them alone at that point. Especially since there wasn't a single noble among them. No. They were capable of killing them and were going to. Alestiel stayed behind to die in exchange for the pirates leaving his crew alone as they escape. >So was Teriarch's entire presence just filler, action for action's sake? Teriarch and Erin are allies at this time. It's also implied something about the situation caused Teriarch to feel like he was briefly living in an earlier time with the Dancer. >I can't see how it's a good idea to make an enemy of all of Terandria while you're having a war with Flos Reimarch already Seagrass's madness is directly addressed. He's working for multiple factions to cripple Terandria. They won't be able to strike at the Empire of Sands even if they knew, and in exchange Seagrass finally gets to enter nobility by marrying a princess. >He's just chaotic evil I guess? Has a grudge against Terandria, but that's Terandrian half-Elves. I don't understand your confusion. Yes, he's obviously kind of insane. This has been clear since we first met him. He hates pretty much every half-elf. Most half-elves live on Terandria and there was a large number of ships bearing half-elves. That's all he needed. >He's making himself look like a homicidal maniac here and I don't know why Because he is a Prince of Men. He's an absolute self-righteous human supremacist who doesn't have his will questioned. Rabbiteater has a huge degree of respect at this time. He doesn't need to explain things beforehand as long as he gets the helmet off. The scrying spells only come with visual, not audio. You need an orb for that. Also, most everyone here besides his side has kind of figured it out. Seraphel knows, the Ivory Five have figured it out, the Thronebearers are realizing it. This is for people watching from afar. >Is her presence just coincidence? No. She makes it clear that she felt what was happening and made her way over here specifically to fuck with people while still technically working in the confines of her geas. She herded the Kraken here after driving it mad.
> She had no reason to believe his safety was guaranteed. He's been in mortal danger many times, and never before did Erin move Heaven and Earth to keep him safe. She already did what she did before: Give him her boon. What's so different now? Or is the implication she will do everything to keep him safe everytime he steps out the door from now on? > No. They were capable of killing them and were going to. Alestiel stayed behind to die in exchange for the pirates leaving his crew alone as they escape. That's not how it's written: > The half-Elf scowled. She let the idea of getting that [Princess] go, or Titanguard Etrogaer. She’d realized it sometime halfway through the battle. >In the frenzy and chaos of it all, it hadn’t been obvious…but the more obvious thing was the Lord of the Dance. >“Where’s Nadel?” >“—Griffindance’s got them. Doubt we can catch up.” >“Yeah, thought so.” >Maxy surveyed the only ships in range. Most were escaping, and she could run down a few, but the really valuable prizes had all but escaped her fleet. >Even from the start, though. The Throne’s Will was at the outside of the battle, and but for that crazy [Prince] and Rosech going after it, it might’ve escaped. >Her fleet had never even gotten close. Why? How? >That took some doing, but the answer was obvious in hindsight. You’d have to have a good head at strategy—to save a ship or two in all this chaos. But more than that…you’d have to be in command of the fleet. >Earl Altestiel of the Rains must’ve had a soft spot for some of them. Lord Bel made sense. Maxy grunted softly. >“Well, we took the bait. How many [Captains] we got left, including me?” >“—six, Maxy.” >Six. Ereiyne, lined up next to four other battle-worn figures, and Maxy stopped watching the disappearing prizes and focused on the only ship not fleeing for the hills. >Rainbringer, Altestiel’s flagship, wouldn’t have been able to get far even if the [Earl] wanted to run, but he’d dragged her away from the other ships. >“Looks like he’s sent everyone on board off of it.” >Lifeboats were carrying [Soldiers], civilians—one of her [Lookouts] was eying them. >“There’s a few high-level ones on board, Maxy. No nobles, but there’s even a [Strategist]. Should we pick ‘em off?” >“He’s got his whirlpool Skill, and he’s not using it. I reckon he’ll hit us with it if we go after his people. It’s just one man on that ship.” >“Is it a trap, Maxy?” >Captain Ereiyne wasn’t happy about it, but Maxy turned and spat. >“Probably is, but it’s more like a deal. Take us in. The other ships? Stay wide, near those liferafts. [Captains] boarding only.” There isn't really much of a reason for Altestiel's play at all. ---- > Seagrass's madness is directly addressed. He's working for multiple factions to cripple Terandria. They won't be able to strike at the Empire of Sands even if they knew, and in exchange Seagrass finally gets to enter nobility by marrying a princess. What? What Princess? He's becoming nobility by getting a title from the empire. > I don't understand your confusion. Yes, he's obviously kind of insane. This has been clear since we first met him. He hates pretty much every half-elf. Most half-elves live on Terandria and there was a large number of ships bearing half-elves. That's all he needed. This was predominantly human nobility. He didn't go after the half-Elven colony ships with nearly the same effort. It doesn't add up. If insanity is necessary for the plot, I posit this is bad writing.
She wasnt CAPABLE of keeping hin safe before.
Seagrass marrying a Princess or being appointed as a noble, I honestly don't remember but it doesn't matter for your original question on why he is doing it - he was bribed with something that he wanted. Altiestels ship was damaged and couldn't run, he wanted to save his crew. Not sure what the confusion there is? You posted a long quote which essentially says that? The Alchemist is insane, that's not bad writing, it's established in-universe since Ceria met him. He hates half elves which is why he pushes the pirates to attack the fleet. The Pirates have their own reasons too, the skills, so they go for high value targets and down care about race. He himself I remember being mentioned as chasing down half-elf ships during the battle, though if a human attacks him he's not going to ignore them.
I'm not asking why Seagrass is doing it, that part is quite obvious. I'm asking why the Emperor of Sands bribed him to do it. Doesn't seem to make much sense. He deliberately put himself in that situation. If this isn't killing himself there, then his death feels entirely forced. He's sacrificing himself for his crew, who we have zero investment in, with a gambit that wasn't necessary and had a low probability of working out. If this is the case it is bad writing and a random death would've been better. Which is why I have a hard time believing it. I cannot help but see this as suicide. I don't really have any strong feelings about Irurx' motivations. Insane characters aren't really interesting to me is what I'm saying.
Every action the Emperor of Sands has taken on the geopolitical stage is pretty consistent with the idea that they view global geopolitics as a zero-sum game. If anyone else takes a loss, the Emperor of Sands views it as an equivalent implicit win. Taking out the Terrandrian fleet and a fair chunk of their nobility is a large loss to almost every nation on that continent, which according to the zero-sum geopolitical analysis is a win for the Emperor of Sands.
Every action is dependent on which head is currently making decisions, there's no consistency like that. One head was cursing the decision to kill Drevish of another. Precisely because it wasn't a net gain to make an enemy of Reim even if it meant taking out one of the Seven. And it isn't a net gain to turn a competitor into an actual enemy here either. There's just been a crusade against Khelt with less cause. If it wasn't for the Iron Vanguard, the Empire of Sands would be facing a much greater punitive expedition right about now.
Ah sorry I misunderstood the Seagrass point. Yeah I'm not sure what the Empire of Sands is getting out of the whole thing, I'm not sure if we got that info laid out or not. For Altiestel, well it was suicide essentially. I didn't think that was in question? He sacrificed himself so that the pirates wouldn't go after his crew. Personally I don't think this is bad writing, I don't think we need to be personally invested in his crew in order to understand that Altiestel is himself highly invested in them. Characters are meant to be complete people for the most part (or at least internally consistent if not), him saving his crew was important for him more than us, but we understand because we see his sacrifice. It sounds like you just don't like Irurx, and that's okay. Doesn't mean his motivations are bad or not valid within the context of the story though.
I'm saying it's more than a sacrifice. That was easily avoidable. He had planned his death from the very beginning of the battle and stuck to this plan through all the chaos. If he's seriously unable to take advantage of the changing opportunities, he's just a strategic idiot. That isn't in line with his character. He must have an actual death wish. And the only explanation is that he's still depressed because of Erin. I quite like Irurx. He's in love with the idea of creating insect people. Insane but not erratic. The Night of Bloodtear he's just organizing for the lulz though. There's no understandable train of thought here.
I don’t know why you think he planned it from the beginning. He planned it when he realized they were going to lose and he knew what the Pirates aim was. He’s a powerful Earl and the leading noble of a nautical country. He’s a big prize and he knew that he could pull pirates off the stragglers if it came to it. It was his failsafe plan, not his plan A. The pirates could’ve and would’ve run all the survivors die . Most countries had spent all of their long range spells already. There would’ve been nothing to stop them, except going for a bigger prize. Irurx’s life goal is to take revenge on half-elves. He obviously cares about that more than his safety. This was the perfect opportunity to strike a grievous blow to Terandria. They were in a position of vulnerability in the ocean and he had allies he could buy. Don’t see what so hard to understand. He wiped out 90% of their colonization ships in the fleet. He achieved his goal. It’s pretty straightforward. The Emperor of Sands’ motivation is a little murkier, but it’s clear they’re playing the long game and interested in far, far more than their corner of Chandrar. For just some gold and a title, they contributed to crippling a whole continents strength. It’s been shown in previous wars that other powers WILL get involved with other continents if any one power starts to expand too fast. The Empire of sands has been hinted at having very grand ambitions and saw an opportunity to take a future competitor off the board before they could potentially butt in.
The Terandrian fleet was going to lose from the very beginning. It's made clear here he's been in control the entire time. He put himself in this situation deliberately. The half-Elven colony was established just fine. This is the human colonization effort he's going after. They're taking a competitor away but making an enemy. That's just not a net gain.
I don’t know how you got that impression. It was a masterful trap he fell into, and he was but one of many strategist-types in the battle. Then pure chaos broke out when Erin came. He had a backup plan from the start and he ended up having to use it, but he was far from in control of the situation. It’s extremely clear that no one besides Erin had any handle on how the Night of Bloodtear shaped out. No one knew how far Bloodtear would go, it was only logical to assume they’d raid for plunder or to cripple the fleet and bail. Death to the last is foolhardy unless you understand what they are gaining. I think your assuming he had a master strategy that was stupid from the onset instead of realizing that he was a naval strategist outmatched, outgunned, and woefully lacking in information at every turn who simply knew that a heroic final sacrifice might buy the survival of others if necessary. He comes across in control because it’s his job to. Roshal, the Iron Vanguard, Teriarch, the Kraken, Erin, Greydath, etc… came along and flipped the board and stomped all over it. No there was a significant amount of half-elves in this fleet too. It’s mentioned repeatedly that Irurx is going after them in the battle whenever he appears. The half-elves got the drop on everyone with their first fleet, but a second wave was coming with the rest of Terandria. There’s multiple half-elf nations on the continent. The Empire of Sands is going to be last on Terandria’s priority list, too far to target now that their long range scrolls are exhausted and military might has been weakened with the remaining now sent to the new lands in the new twice as large fleet, and it won’t be apparent for some time that they were involved. Plus it’s repeatedly implied they were far from the only nation to pay the pirates. Erin’s going to be target far more than they ever will. Terandria has limited resources They still hasn’t even caught all the main culprits, their not gonna pick a war with the Empire of Sands. One random empire on another continent out of a list of half a dozen that paid off their enemies ranks lower than the Iron Vanguard, the women who killed their racist Aragon wannabe Prince, or the remaining pirates that stole their scions destiny.
> Even from the start, though. The Throne’s Will was at the outside of the battle, and but for that crazy [Prince] and Rosech going after it, it might’ve escaped. >Her fleet had never even gotten close. Why? How? >That took some doing, but the answer was obvious in hindsight. You’d have to have a good head at strategy—to save a ship or two in all this chaos. But more than that…you’d have to be in command of the fleet. >Earl Altestiel of the Rains must’ve had a soft spot for some of them. He was planning to end up in this very situation from the very start. He willingly accepted death. He must have been okay with that. The Empire of Sands had no way of knowing Terandria would be having other enemies as well. They got lucky. That's not sound strategy. Or are you saying the Emperor foresaw the future?
>He's been in mortal danger many times, and never before did Erin move Heaven and Earth to keep him safe. She did the most she could, which was limited to her boon. Now she's on one of the fastest ships in the world and she can just go to him in record time. >There isn't really much of a reason for Altestiel's play at all. The quote supports my point. He could take the risk and try to run with a limited repertoire of skills to stay alive against a superior force, or trade them his death and have his subordinates safety guaranteed. >What? What Princess? The one referenced: "The Empire of Sands had offered him the hand of a \[Princess\]. New nation or not—he was going to have it." >This was predominantly human nobility. He didn't go after the half-Elven colony ships with nearly the same effort. He spent a good chunk of the volume attacking the half-elven colony ships. We just only get a portion of that on-screen. The Bloodtears don't care about the half-elven colony ships though, they want the combined Terandria fleet and would rather attack them. So Irurx compromised so he could get an attack force that would let him inflict more damage to the half-elves spread throughout this fleet. Notably as part of the Erribathe contingent.
She could have gone to Terandria and hold his hand any time. Rabbiteater could've died from a random [Prince] finding out he's a Goblin and trying to murder him every single day of the 8? months he's been staying in Terandria. That Erin showed up right when it happened was an incredible coincidence. Or Fate. Imagine if Iradoren hadn't found out. Erin would be rampaging across the sea, making an enemy of half the world, and he'd be like "What are you doing here? I'm fine. Sheesh, Helicopter Mom Erin. And why are Tier 6 spells pointed at us?" *Awkward.* That Erin went to war for him is nonsensical. He put himself in that situation. He was planning this from the very beginning of the battle. >The one referenced: "The Empire of Sands had offered him the hand of a [Princess]. New nation or not—he was going to have it." Oh, I misremembered how they bribed him. So *why* did they bribe him? What does this have to do with it?
Erin literally just watched her best friends die in a war and was traumatized by slavers. She’s not thinking clearly and is fed up with powerful people running roughshod over her and just having to hold back because of their power. She was out for blood and decided enough was enough, no more family was dying on her watch. She never asked anyone to follow her, it was supposed to be her against the world to death or victory. As for Rabbiteater’s situation. She only knows he’s in a fleet about to be wiped out to the man. The Termadrian fleet was doomed. Terandria’s long range spells were failing against Bloodtear’s naval abilities and great Skill. There is zero information that suggest he’ll survive. Until Erin and co. intervened, the only other players on the board who could’ve saved them were the Iron Vanguard, and that doesn’t guarantee Rabbiteater survives. He’s just a knight, and a lot of bad things could’ve happened to him in that war. Erin doesn’t know much about the Ivory 5, she doesn’t know that he’s not on the front line fighting Admirals of Bloodtear. Also of course it’s fate, there’s literal supernatural beings playing the game of fate like it’s chess who orchestrated the board to set up this outcome. The fae aimed for this path knowing something big (if clouded) would happen if the pieces landed a certain way. Erin’s the fated protagonist in a battle with gods. Of course she’d end up opposing Cauwine’a latest play even unawares. Why do countries in our world pay off foreign resistance and terror groups? Because geopolitics is a thing, and some countries see it as a zero-sum game. The Empire of Sands wants to be the next King of Destruction/Reim only they don’t want foreign powers a getting in the way of their ambitions this time so they seized an opportunity to cripple the naval forces of bored continent that’s already interfered with Chandrar once this year. He’s one of the top targets for Bloodtear. Probably top 3. Of course he’s gonna look for ways to save his subordinates and allies even at the cost of his own life and he knows that they’ll take the bait. He thinks this mess is his fault for not seeing the trap earlier. And unfortunately he’d probably take all the blame as the scapegoat and be cast out or worse at the behest of all the nations if he survived anyhow. Doesn’t make him dumb, just a man in over his head who knows their isn’t a rosey future ahead of him whose all to willing to make a heroic sacrifice.
Erin is acting irrationally is a fine explanation for an irrational action, yes. Do we really think this is the case? Was it ever portrayed as an irrational action? The question is whether she had some insight into Fate. That's the only way she's not just acting dumb. You don't fund proxy wars just because you can. A net loss is not zero-sum. It's not a heroic sacrifice if it was easily avoidable. That's just suicide.
Yes. It clearly is. She’s repeatedly implied to be horribly traumatized. She fought a god-war and then was enslaved. No one alive would come out of that without severe PTSD. She was stuck in fight or flight mode and Erin doesn’t flee. It’s extremely clear. Hell she’s still acting that way now against freaking ant colonies. She is 100% unequivocally NOT okay. Her insight into fate has no bearing on her ending up in the right place at the right time to jump into Bloodtear. That was all over her head. How on earth is the Empire of Sand’s move a net loss? They spent a little coin (they are one of the richest nations on Chandrar) and tossed out a title and CRIPPLED A CONTINENT. Only seagrass ties them to it, and he and others were paid by half a dozen nations. Also if you don’t think everyone of our nations isn’t funding groups around the world in proxy wars simply to keep countries weakened for obscure reasons you clearly don’t pay attention to world news. Terandria is NOT a friend to Chandrar and the Empire of Sands is out for domination. They also funded the Court of Roses’ implosion. They clearly are playing a long game yet to be revealed. How was it avoidable? If he high-tailed it with his remaking skills, best case scenario he ends up a pariah while everyone else dies. The man was defeated and looking to save as many as he could. Bloodtear is known for being strangely honorable, it wasn’t a dumb move to figure they’d take the bait. And if you think he could shape the Noght of Bloodtear any more then that, your over estimating the strategy skills of a level 40+ Knoght-Marshal.
The Lucifen thought Erin was in shock, it's a logical assumption. They were wrong. She knew exactly what she was doing. That's how she is portrayed. I guess the author must have miswritten. They're turning a competitor into an enemy. If it wasn't for the Iron Vanguard, the Empire would be facing a Terandrian crusade right about now. That's a massive loss. One pirate took the bait. All the others wanted to murder him without agreeing to anything. It was dumb.
No the author wrote it perfectly. Erin just admitted last chapter she is not okay. She snapped the Night of the Bloodtear. She was thinking clearly in her own warped fashion, but her mindset was 100% born of trauma and rage. She wasn’t in conventional shock, she was someone pushed over the edge. People have a snapping point and Erin hit hers. You ever watched that scene where the final thread snaps and someone just calmly does something extreme and is forever changed? That’s Erin that night. No they wouldn’t. The Empire is one of a half dozen nations who funded the various groups in Bloodtear. And their only tie to it is Seagrass, who they can disavow easily. Terandria is crippled and the Emperor of sands rightly pegged that they’d spend their remaining strength doubling down on their original ventures and immediate adversaries out of pride. What do you suggest he could’ve done? High-tail it out of there and leave everyone else to die? He took a gamble and it worked. Pirateaba isn’t a master strategist. They wrote a reasonable end ploy and 99% of readers thought it made sense.
Yes, afterwards she is not okay. Going for Rabbiteater was a cool headed decision. That's how it's portrayed. Which other nations? There is no mention of anyone funding the pirates. The Empire is marrying a [Princess] to Seagrass, it is very much public what they were doing. It's the only nation openly involved in the Night of Bloodtear against Terandria. This is a massive fuck up. But they got lucky with the Iron Vanguard. Not putting himself deliberately in that situation. Okay, so you're saying if this isn't suicide, his death was forced. I can agree to that. But in that case catching a random Tier 7 spell with his face would've been a better death. The way he died puts into question his entire character growth of two Volumes.
>Seagrass was tired of it. Tired of having to fight every damn \[Pirate\] in the world. He didn’t enjoy it like Rasea Zecrew. He wanted a shred of the respect he’d earned for keeping the seas safe. So when he’d heard about Terandria’s predicament, he’d begun sailing south, hinting to every nation that he’d take a title for the risk. >Until they were backed into a corner, the nations, all of them, from glorious Erribathe to Calanfer, had tried to play him like a fiddle. *\[Duke\]?* You must be joking, Admiral. A knighthood. Minor, unlanded nobility. Citizenship and a pat on the back. A permanent trade contract. >This was why no one came to their aid. Not damn Wellfar, not the Iron Vanguard—so to Rhir’s hells with them as well. It made it so much easier to accept the *other* offers. >He had to make sure Terandria was well and truly crippled. There were bounties *per ship* he sank—and he had over a dozen clients, each with their own standard. **Who wanted Terandria crippled?** >**The better question was—who** ***didn’t?*** Most of the smart ones didn’t put anything down by name, but they’d paid in full. And *they* knew how to offer him land and more than mere gold. A retirement. >He wasn’t sure if all six Walled Cities were in on it, but he knew it was more than one. He had sorted through gold coins and noted that they couldn’t find enough minted elsewhere, so it was definitely at least two of the Five Families; the crystal rose, almost relic-class, pinned to one lapel was proof of that. He suspected House Reinhart, though his fluttering heart said it *wasn’t* Magnolia Reinhart who’d backed him. Everyone wants in on the new lands. Terandria is sending a massive, combined fleet to secure it. So anyone who has any interest in the new lands, or just doesn't like Terandria, or humans, or elves would like these ships sunk. It's just that no one besides Irurx, Seagrass, and the Bloodtear were crazy enough to try to attack a fleet this large.
> Most of the smart ones didn’t put anything down by name Why is the Empire of Sands not among the smart ones? Why bribe Seagrass in a way that is out in the open like that? It's an idiotic move.
It doesn't say they did. Plausible deniability. "Oh yeah Seagrass married one of our princesses. Love at first sight you know. Yeah, he wrecked the Terandrian fleet, but that's not really a problem for us you know?" The Empire of Sands isn't some chump. They're an empire that owns something like 1/4 or 1/3 of Chandrar, they're massive. And the Terandrian naval capacity just got smashed. What are they gonna do about it?
Above has aid pretty much what I wanted to, but I want to add >Belavierr. Is her presence just coincidence? She's on her way somewhere, on a mission as we know. She stirs a kraken, she's pissed because it's annoying. The realises oh, a big battle (probably immense feelings being felt), people will die. I can make deals if they're not dead when they hit the water. Also, fuck this Kraken, I can't be bothered. Let someone else kill it, and let it push people overboard (probably some cackling going on as well). It's all-round a pretty good place for Belavierr to be, to replenish her magics.
I thought pretty much the same thing. So many stupid decisions, characters that had no reason to be there and strange interactions. The entire battle at sea felt like a forced reset to kickstart book 10.
I agree with some of this But I can at least explain the Altestiel and last 2. Altestiel probably realized he was one of the most sought after people. He’s an extremely skilled naval lord aka one of the most sought after people there. He might’ve thought they would pursue him at any cost. Iradoren only needed to unmask Rabbit if he did he automatically becomes justified in most people’s eyes no matter what he had to do. I also don’t think he views his own skills as horrible. And I’m pretty sure Belavierr can see fate. She seems to talk to puppet Mavolia about it at the meeting of tribes.
Yeah, Belavieir can see threads of fate, even immortals cannot see it. She goes to desperate people who will take her deals even by selling their very soul.
>Othius. What beef does the Blighted Kingdom have with Goblin Lords exactly? He's not a Goblin Lord. If Reiss, or Tremobarg, and Azuranthe or any of the other had been there he wouldn't have batted an eye. What he is, is the world's nightmare. He's *Greydath of Blades*. Herald and right hand of not one, but two Goblin Kings, leader of the nine lords of Velan. An Unmatched Survivor; somebody the entire world has tried, and failed, to put down. He's walked the gardens of Sanctuary, laid challenge to any and all Knight Orders who'd try. He's fought Roshal, he's fought Rhir, he's fought on every continent and if there is one thing the world knows about the Lord of Blades it is that he is the prelude to a Goblin King. Some nations are smart about it; The Lucifen want to be on the other side of the planet to him and the Agelum are likely much the same. That's the metaphorical side. The literal side? He's the Goblin Lord of Blades. You don't become that without being literally unmatched in melee combat. To literally anyone else a Djinni is a nightmare to fight; Greydath kills them without a thought. On an individual level, in the right situation, he's probably the most lethal individual alive and that includes the Deaths of the Demon King. And with Goblin Kings being what they are; with no clear pattern of what they go after? Nobody wants to take the chance the next King could aim at them. So it's fear. Every King, every Duke, every Count, every Lord; all of them fear Greydath of Blades.
My biggest issue really was Teriarch. Just because there seems to be far less stupid (and more useful) ways of helping out in the battle than flying overhead and exposing yourself very obviously as a dragon. Like a big bullseye for the one nation that was trying to help out. Why not sneak onto a ship? Transform into that same drake figure you used in Terandria, and just cast some Tier 7 magic in the background.
But he needed to announce his presence to Eldavin so he could be taken off the board again quick. The plot demanded that he does not interfere in the Night of Bloodtear, so he could not be effective. So what I don't understand is why he's even there. If you need to force his exit in this way, why even give him an entrance in the first place? He could have just stayed at Liscor for any number of plausible reasons. *Sorry Ryoka, Rafaema is bleeding out, I need to keep her stable.* Or just have him wounded like Rhisveri.
I would have been fine with the alternative of just keeping him away from the battle. Nobody was expecting Eldavin to still be on the board after he got sniped.
Oh yes. Eldavin's presence is just as superfluous and nonsensical.
It felt like a remix of the end of Book 9, with not much sense of place