oh wow...that could be awesome. thought it could turn out that it really was ariel in disguise.haha
While it is true that Isobelle introduced the story of Serash to make a more philosophical point about following harmful traditions just for the sake of following them, I do get the feeling there is some more plot behind that.
I have to say I agree with the idea that Seresh is somehow involved with Salamander (either as Salamander in a Dread Pirate Roberts kinda way, or the woman who hangs around him).
I've only read part of this thread so am sorry if I I'm just repeating something someone has already said! I was thinking though, that having been in the Earthtemple for so long, it is possible that she had come across some important information about the Seeker and the Destroyer - information that I'm sure Ariel would want access to!
And yeah, I agree the connection between the pretty (+ Sadorian!) things they find in Ariel's place and Serash's liking of them is highly coincidental.
I have to agree with lizliz, i just can't get my head away from Ariel- it makes sense and it just seems right.....
So, I know it is a bit late but I finished reading TSK months ago but for some reason this afternoon whilst driving home from work the whole seresh/salamander idea hit me. So that's how I ended up here.
After reading this whole thread and a number of others I present you with this idea.
Firstly, when El is asked to visit the temple overguardian jakoby is asked to bring her. This is where Suresh is introduced. It is clear from the way Jakoby described her sister and her mother that Seresh would have received a more 'normal' childhood than most other deformed Sadorians who's parents would have raised under the pretence of sending them to the temple. Would these mean Seresh would be more "personable" and independent compared to others at the temple - leading to her own exploration and interpretation of the running of the temple. Would this also mean that she was fully aware of the signs left for El and possibly the story that goes with it?
Secondly, when Suresh left the temple, where did she go? Is it possible that she ventured to Obernewtyn? This is likely because although the track is not well worn, there is still a track that leads from Sador to Obernewtyn (the same track El takes at the end of TSK). Although it is hard to tell because ages are not greatly discussed. Could Seresh have ventured to Obernewtyn where she met Ariel as a child? Also after it being brought up by another user, could Seresh be the person behind Ariel's knowledge of the future? If Seresh has futuretelling ability is it possible that she had manipulated Ariel from a young age - giving Ariel the information he needed to gain power - hence Ariel needing her to make himself feel more powerful.
If Ariel and Seresh did form an unlikely partnership. Could the Henry Druid story arc simply be there to show how Ariel first came to know a majority of the information about the beforetime weapons. Henry had these weapons and was also in the process of seeking these out. Evidence of this also come from the fact that Ariel seems to have acquired a number of different beforetime weapons for himself and also supplying these to the herder faction.
When it comes to the Seresh/Salamander theory. If Seresh used her knowledge from the temples and possible future telling ability and Ariel was simply the vessel in which she used to set up her "salamander" image. It is possible that she could have created such an image of herself that organisations such as the faction would see her/him as a valuable resource for their cause based solely on their dealings with Ariel.
I know this seems a bit far fetched but it's late. So just to take it to the next step I'm going to say that before Salamander was around there was obviously slave trading still taking place. It would be an interesting spin on things if Els brother was taken as a slave or soldier and played a major part in the death of the Red Queen.
In terms of the destroyer, I do not think it is Ariel. The profile of Rasial does fit but surely the Agylians would recognise this straight away? It also does not seem likely because beast are not known to have any misfit abilities and I cannot see a dog operating beforetime machines.
Hopefully this has given someone else some ideas???
I think that is is plausible , I would comment more but I am not meant to be on here as I have other stuff to do |:|
Seresh's upbringing definately makes her more independant than other temple guardians but its also clear that it made it impossible for her to transition to temple guardian leaving her disenfranchised with her society and unable to belong.
I don't believe Seresh could have met Ariel at Obernewtyn. Firstly the coast road was not open at that time because the taint had not receded but secondly I can't think of any reason for her to want to go to Obernewtyn at that time - or really there after. It was an out of the way orphan home - unless she believed that the beforetime weapons were there and she wants them. Even so she is sadorian and particularly at that time when sadorians had not entered the land she would have had to hide her identity.
I think there is a strong possibility that Seresh is a futureteller and that her training and knowledge of the temple and its secrets would be desirable to Ariel. However she would only know of the stone sword and the passage way to the laptop, not necessarily the voiceprint key. And that is only if all temple guardians have that knowledge.
I also think that Saresh is Salamander. At Ariels residence Elspeth sees, sadorian silks, gadfian poetry and on a womans clothes images of sandcats. (that live in the desert of Sador) pg 874 TSK. Also Jackoby mentions her sister to why she is so against the immersions, (the immersions were already explained by Dameon in TKP) but at the same time she talks about how adventurous her sister was in seafaring and how she loved pretty things. We also discover Seresh left Sador by ship.
We know Salamander or a Salamander has choca skin and that the Black ship is very like the Sadorian/Gadfian vessels.
I don't think it matters that Seresh had not been introduced until now. The seeds were planted, always covered, the great ships and Jackoby's story was often hinted at for eg. In Ashling Jackoby reacts to the mention of deformed mutants.
now that is a really interesting concept! i am a newbie too, infact i only joined today! who is seresh? i forgot or never read about her in the book
Seresh is Jackoby's sister; she is talked about in The Stone Key (I think it's the Stone Key, anyway) when Elspeth goes back to Sador and the earth temple. We have not yet actually met her.
I haven't read everyones theories, although i probably should, but
I believe that Seresh is salamander...I'm happy to be proven wrong, but it seems to add up, the Black ship is very much like the Sadorian greatships, same size/style, only it has some beforetime weaponry attached to it and is, of course black. Womens clothing in Ariel's chambers...(unless of course Ariel has a little secret about enjoying dressing like a woman...)
Seresh also could have taken some maps that show the world and the Red Queens land...
Ariel is the destroyer -its pretty much been said in the books, he is also an opposite to elspeth, he is a male, he has fair hair, he is evil...(thats a big tip off there!!! (c:)
I don't rightly know where that soilderguard who recognised Dragon in Sutrium fits in, but he does, i have an inkling that he was one of the people working with the Gatekeeper and helped kill the Red Queen and was on the boat (or has come to the Land at another time) - he could even have been the gatekeeper....
aaaahh...its good theorising, BUT I JUST WANNA KNOW!
wtb the sending, kthnx?
Thought I would add my 2c to this issue! I also think that Seresh is Salamander. When Jakoby first mentions her sister to Elspeth on the way to Norseland, she says that although the crew is not experienced in sailing so far out from land, she is, since she and her sister as children ventured further out; her sister out of natural adventurousness. Since it is generally assumed that Salamander is Sadorian, he or she is apparently different from most Sadorians in sailing style, more adventurous in sailing to the Red Queen's Land out of sight of land. I am truly sorry if that is nonsense, I am seriously sleep deprived at the moment so my brain isn't working real well.... o_O
Then there is the obvious stuff with the pretty clothes etc, but that has been covered pretty well. Like someone else said, I'm sure IC wouldn't have suddenly added this character and fleshed her out just enough to get us speculating for no reason.
I'd never thought much about that soldierguard until reading this thread, so thanks to all the clever people who put that together, it's got me thinking about that now!!
Although I love the cross-dressing Ariel theory, I'm just not sure it could be him. I don't question his need to spread as much misery as possible but between looking for the Seeker and his Herder responsibilities, not to mention his earlier connections with Druid, he must have been pretty busy and running a slaving business sounds like a full-time responsibility. He has to sleep sometimes! :P
Ariel doesn't NEED sleep, he just happens to get some when he's stalking Elf in the dreamtrails :P
But I don't think Ariel is Salamander. I think he's the one who helped Salamander rise so high in the slaver ranks so quickly, and the one who got the herders (and possibly the soldier guards) involved in the slave trade, but he isn't Salamander specifically, because when everyone was going to herder isle, it seemed pretty clear that Salamader was on the black ship and Ariel was on the island... I'd have to look it up to be sure, but that's the impression I got: that the black ship was going to Herder isle to pick up Ariel, and then it left again.
Besides, Ariel doesn't like to be in charge in charge, he likes to be the guy in the background, manipulating the people who are actually supposed to be in charge. He's just clever that way :-"
True true. I'd bet he was the one who got salamander that beforetime ship that put all the other slavers out of business. I wonder where he got it from, maybe the herders... or maybe the Gadfians had some leftover military hardware. Who knows!
Wanderer Guilden
14 years ago
Wanderer Guilden
Mage
lol wouldn't it be funny if salamander ended up with some sort of beforetime boat like the navy has now? that would be funny :P
wells, i think that Salamander is Seresh... but whatever... i doubt that Ariel would be him/her because... well, lets face it... just no :P
14 years ago
Thu Feb 04 2010, 12:16am
I would prefer it if he/she ended up getting a wee little speed boat . . . and then there would be an epic speed boat chase of some description. NO WAIT A JET SKI! Salamander on a jet ski zooming along at such a high speed that his/her robes are all blown away revealing his/her true identity. :D
Okay so that will never happen but now I really want to draw it 8-|
Anyway. I'm actually not all that sure about whether Salamander is Seresh or not. It fits very nicely and there are a lot of indicators to such but really . . . this IC so who knows. The OC are one serious where I have never really put toooo much thought into what is going to happen in further books. Sure things get hinted at but IC has blown any small thoughts I had out of the water so I've just given up with most things. So many times have a thought something is going to end up with some great big epic reveal/thing/etc and it hasn't but then other things that I never really thought about have become such instead. :P I really do like the idea of Salamander being Seresh though, but the idea that he/she is actually a number of people (probably including Saresh) seem like a good idea too.
Of course I also like the idea of Ariel being a closet cross-dresser . . . we know he is pretty darn mad after all :P
Ashlings' guildleader
14 years ago
Thu Feb 04 2010, 07:08pm
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
[act]has a sudden mental image of Ariel and Salamander sitting around on the black ship painting their toenails[/act] XD
Ariel: And so I'm like, "Sometimes you have to eves drop" and the best she can come up with is "What are you doing here?"? I mean, sometimes I just think that my evil genius is completely wasted on a nemesis like her, [act]sighs[/act]
Salamander: [act]also sighs[/act] I here ya sista.
lolololol
another reason Ariel hates Elspeth so much is that HE wants Rushton, I mean I don't blame him, but he's all "heartbroken" because he saw Rushton first.
Wanderer Guilden
14 years ago
Wanderer Guilden
Mage
pmsl XP nice
somehow i don't think that ama would like the yoai action very much though :P
Sometimes I think people know me too well :P
I don't think Ariel wants Rushton. Mainly because it pikes my jealousy. Besides, he HAD Rushton, but broke him and gave him back :P
But Sian, you do have a point; his genius really is wasted on Elf, lol...
... and just to pretend that this post is on topic, why would Ariel's being Salamander make him a crossdresser ??? I mean, within the book, everyone assumes Salamander is a man, so where did the crossdressing come in? *has the impression she's missing something obvious*
14 years ago
Tue Feb 09 2010, 07:04am
[act]feels like she's jumped into a cuckoo clock[/act]
I think the cross-dressing reference is to the room of woman's clothing in Ariel's residence on Norseland?
And I still think it would be too convenient for Saresh alone to be Salamander...the concept of Jakoby's sister was only introduced part way through the last book. While Salamander has been kicking around since Farseekers, really. I still have high hopes that Saresh is a red herring and it'll be someone we've known for ages, like the Druid, or that it'll be a great number of people (hence the mask, because it could be one of many playing him/her). That way Salamander really could be Ariel, Saresh, Henry Druid, Erin Druid, any number of AWOL characters :P
The women's clothes found in his residence on Norseland make him a cross-dresser.
Well :P we've joked that that's one of the possible reasons the clothing could be there :P
Ashlings' guildleader
14 years ago
Ashlings' guildleader
Dreamscape Artist
What's with the cuckoo clock? o_O [act]is confuzzled[/act]