Onyx Storm: Chapter 30
Mar. 22nd, 2025 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penwallaOkay, the chapter opens with this quote.
The religious worldbuilding in these books is abysmal, to the point that I can tell you the name of exactly one god and very little else. I think the best way to describe it like...the characters in these books seem to have the attitude to their gods the way most people do to their star signs, or to the Greek Gods. (I know some people do ascribe to the Greek pantheon, but bear with me here.) There's no sense that any of the characters so far have religious beliefs that affect their lives in any meaningful way. The names of gods and the one word concepts associated with them are thrown around, but it's never been explored what to worship actually means in this world.
This quote implies that the writer believes that the gods exist and that they have feelings. But it's the only time in the book that it has been so.
Anyways, a lot of armed warriors have surrounded Violet and co.
Okay, interesting. Unlike Basgiath, the army of Unnbriel is run by people who have thought about how to create camaraderie and cohesion in their forces. (Hint: it's not by allowing them to have alternate styles and letting them kill each other.)
Xaden requests an audience with the queen, but is turned down because the warriors think that the Navarrians are weaklings because it was easy to surround their camp. At which point all the dragons and gryphons emerge from the trees, surrounding the warriors and pinning them in. I will note that the book does make sure to tell us the captain thinks they're weak especially because Violet is so tiny. Even though she's armed to the teeth and they know she has a dragon.
Also, aren't these dragons...large? How the fuck were they missed?
Violet knows the laws of Unnbriel, so Xaden is able to secure them an entrance at court because you can get one in this country by beating up someone of an appropriate rank in combat. Violet is in charge of the mission, so she gets to pick who gets to actually go meet the queen. She brings Cat and Aaric to represent Poromiel and Navarre, Xaden to fight, and Dain because he's the only one with a command of the language here.
Scene change.
Violet and co arrive in the ringed capital city of Eistol, where the walls are thick and mounted with crossbolts. Violet says that these are anti-dragon measures, but I'm curious as to why. I guess the archers would be useful for other kinds of enemies, too, but Unnbriel is magicless and far enough away from Navarre that I wouldn't expect dragons to be their primary fear. If the city was merely well-defended and it was a sign of the people being war-like, I wouldn't question it, but Violet specifically calls it 'constructed to fight dragons'.
Anyways, the crossbolts are a moot point because Tairn and Sgaeyl just land next to them without any problems.
I will pause to show you this:
Do we want to bet on whether Violet or Andarna are going to be holy to these people?
Violet and co are led through some kind of fortress, which is built to allow small forces to fend off large ones with lots of choke points, to a temple where they're going to have some kind of trial by combat. I think this is literally the first time a temple has appeared in the books. The temple has a line of attendants--all with silver hair. SILVER HAIR. NOT GREY. NOT WHITE. SILVER. LIKE VIOLET. IN CASE YOU FORGOT.
And...the chapter's over.
Deep sigh. Naturally religion will only become relevant in this series when people start worshipping Violet. Why else would we need to know about it?
It is unwise to favor one god above another. Better to shun them all than show favoritism amongst a jealous, prodigious pantheon.
—Major Rorilee’s Guide to Appeasing the Gods, Second Edition
The religious worldbuilding in these books is abysmal, to the point that I can tell you the name of exactly one god and very little else. I think the best way to describe it like...the characters in these books seem to have the attitude to their gods the way most people do to their star signs, or to the Greek Gods. (I know some people do ascribe to the Greek pantheon, but bear with me here.) There's no sense that any of the characters so far have religious beliefs that affect their lives in any meaningful way. The names of gods and the one word concepts associated with them are thrown around, but it's never been explored what to worship actually means in this world.
This quote implies that the writer believes that the gods exist and that they have feelings. But it's the only time in the book that it has been so.
Anyways, a lot of armed warriors have surrounded Violet and co.
They’re all so… similar. Every soldier in front of us, regardless of sex, stands roughly the same height— within a few inches of six feet tall, with the same muscular build and closely cropped hair. And all wear the same emblem on their leathers, though I’m guessing the different insignia at the bases of their necks denote rank.
Okay, interesting. Unlike Basgiath, the army of Unnbriel is run by people who have thought about how to create camaraderie and cohesion in their forces. (Hint: it's not by allowing them to have alternate styles and letting them kill each other.)
Xaden requests an audience with the queen, but is turned down because the warriors think that the Navarrians are weaklings because it was easy to surround their camp. At which point all the dragons and gryphons emerge from the trees, surrounding the warriors and pinning them in. I will note that the book does make sure to tell us the captain thinks they're weak especially because Violet is so tiny. Even though she's armed to the teeth and they know she has a dragon.
Also, aren't these dragons...large? How the fuck were they missed?
Violet knows the laws of Unnbriel, so Xaden is able to secure them an entrance at court because you can get one in this country by beating up someone of an appropriate rank in combat. Violet is in charge of the mission, so she gets to pick who gets to actually go meet the queen. She brings Cat and Aaric to represent Poromiel and Navarre, Xaden to fight, and Dain because he's the only one with a command of the language here.
Scene change.
Violet and co arrive in the ringed capital city of Eistol, where the walls are thick and mounted with crossbolts. Violet says that these are anti-dragon measures, but I'm curious as to why. I guess the archers would be useful for other kinds of enemies, too, but Unnbriel is magicless and far enough away from Navarre that I wouldn't expect dragons to be their primary fear. If the city was merely well-defended and it was a sign of the people being war-like, I wouldn't question it, but Violet specifically calls it 'constructed to fight dragons'.
Anyways, the crossbolts are a moot point because Tairn and Sgaeyl just land next to them without any problems.
I will pause to show you this:
The soldiers begin to argue as we approach the gate, but I only pick out danger and holy.
Do we want to bet on whether Violet or Andarna are going to be holy to these people?
Violet and co are led through some kind of fortress, which is built to allow small forces to fend off large ones with lots of choke points, to a temple where they're going to have some kind of trial by combat. I think this is literally the first time a temple has appeared in the books. The temple has a line of attendants--all with silver hair. SILVER HAIR. NOT GREY. NOT WHITE. SILVER. LIKE VIOLET. IN CASE YOU FORGOT.
And...the chapter's over.
Deep sigh. Naturally religion will only become relevant in this series when people start worshipping Violet. Why else would we need to know about it?
