I think it’s nice how Thaddeus got a chance to be part of the social group/in-crowd. Though arguably, they’re all morally questionable, betting on torture and murder.
Discussion, thoughts, theories welcome. 
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Amazing chapter as always.
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Glad to see Damien again even if only briefly
Given the timing, I wonder if the Red Sage’s prophecy has anything to do with Siobhan’s pact with Legion? It was enough to attract the Archaeologist’s attention, and Aberrants are probably even more sensitive to that sort of thing
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So Thaddeus might be getting pulled away from Gilbratha to deal with this Red Sage thing. Probably good for Siobhan’s mental health to not have to worry about him for a while.
I wonder if this has anything to do with what’s been happening in the story. I imagine it’s not the deal since it’s only been 2 hours since the beginning of the previous chapter, though who knows with prophesy involved.
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I’m unsettled by Lacer’s ability to work around his binding vows. I see parallels to the pact between Siobhan and Leigon. If lacer can work around his bindings can Leigon too?
I would think that Leigons bindings are stronger, in part because the bindings are a large part of what makes Leigon who they are. There is still a worry in the back of my head though.
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I’d guess that two things make the Legion bond safer for now 1. Is time Lacer has been weakening his vows for years possibly decades. 2. She made the vows while physically in the spirit world which should make them stronger.
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A thing of symmetry I think, so long as she can align with Legion she may be ok. The question is how to keep her own development, quite possibly specifically of Will, apace with Legion. More oaths and I suspect more definemnts with the Undreaming Order like her sign may actually help define her as well in a way that may make their bindings more…symbiotic with time
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I am wondering if Thaddeus will let something slip to her, in either of her forms, and that will be the opportunity she takes to make Thaddeus’ prophecy come true.
Thaddeus scratched his beard. “Whatever it is, it will be something that no one else guessed. Not necessarily death, either, but definitely complete, irrecoverable destruction of some sort.”
Lacer is probably willing to let Siobhan know that he will be uncontactable for a while and that Hite will be out of her hair for a while.
It seems possible that, with time before the term starts, Siobhan could follow along and interfere in a minor way in such a battle that results in the some sort of unexpected, irrevocable destruction, but not one that can be pinned on her.
Tbh it seems like arranging to let Hite talk to it for 30 seconds would be enough to achieve that goal. The man is not very likeable, and people the Red Sage doesn’t like tend not to have happy fates.
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Also, I feel like the main recourse Legion would have to slip it’s bonds is to make the name no longer apply to it in some way. This would have narrative symmetry (because questions about her true name are something Siobhan also uses to weaken/avoid vows) and would align with the hints we have heard in the past about how naming spirits rather than just describing things that they have done is somewhat dangerous.
Spirits had no name—and should not be given one. ‘What happens if you do?’ Siobhan wondered. The book didn’t say. Without any horrifying cautionary tales, she had a hard time taking warnings of danger seriously.
Instead, spirits should be described. If she knew a specific one she was looking for, she might summon them using words like, “The friendly spirit who knows the shaman Siobhan Naught, who loves flowers and knows the color ultraviolet, who has walked with Siobhan Naught through the Valley of End and has been contracted to aid her.”
Legion is probably stable for now, but stories about Carnigore are some powerful foreshadowing of bound entities freeing themselves.
My other pet theory about the danger of naming spirits is that nominative determinism is true for them. Because magic is shaped by the beliefs of the masses, entities of thought and magic tend to take on traits that are related to their names. Legion may take to manifesting more bodies at once, may take to a more martial inclination, and/or may take on demonic traits.
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We don’t know a whole lot about red sage other than it does prophesy stuff, right? I’m assuming, but can’t remember for sure, we don’t know what these original prophesies are.
Anyone remember the book/chapter were sage was mentioned previously?
I’m inclined to side with Siobhan with this. I think it also comes down to the question what a spirit is. Apparently it is quite common to name things from other planes like Paimon. In the worst case she created a named aberrant like the red sage. 
Though the timing is curios. Did she do something unthinkable again? Their name is Legion: for they are many.
Maybe but I don’t think so. Lacer had wondered about the possibility of her binding an Abberant to her service before and did so in a way that made it seem like something he knew could happen
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It’s been mentioned in several of the previous books, but our most detailed description is actually from its entry in the glossary:
A powerful Aberrant that is contained within a sundered zone, but still manages to meet people. It has three eyes, each of which are said to see the future. All prophecies that it gives come true, but it seems that the Red Sage can either choose who it meets through a sort of subtle summoning (and thus control the prophecies it gives) or it chooses what to prophecy—it can be bribed to give a better fortune. However, in coming true all prophecies cause great suffering and destruction, if not to the recipient, then to the people and world around the recipient. Two of its prophecies—and eyes—are in constant use, and ensure its continued existence and ability to affect the world. The Red Guard facilitates the prophecies from its third eye coming true to try and mitigate the damage, and attempts to control who can meet the Red Sage.
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First and foremost: Bane is adorable and I want to pet the fluffy kitty.
Secondly, Errata:
exceedingly to predict → exceedingly difficult to predict.
noting as Damien’s footsteps followed him down to the ground floor and out of the looming, intimidating building → I think you can leave out the as. Or rewrite this sentence differently. But as it stands I’m waiting for the other half to drop (as Damien’s footsteps followed him - something else happens?)
That’s all I noticed today.
Moving on to Thaddeus’s thoughts for the day.
I do love Damien growing a spine and telling him to fuck off. He’s such a good boy.
Thaddeus putting money on the Raven Queen should really alarm the higher ups if they find out about it. The man knows her best of all the Red Guard.
I have more excitement but I also have a critical lack of time to talk about it 
I will say there’s a distinct difference in a human sorcerer breaking vows created in the mundane realm under duress to another human vs an Aberrant / spirit breaking vows made willingly (they wanted very badly to live, though it was still under duress but this was their idea) in the spirit realm.
That’s not to say I don’t take warning from the tales of Carnagore. Siobhan’s life has been eerily reminiscent of Myrddin’s, after all.
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I’m not sure if Carnagore freed itself willingly, or if its need to propagate its anomalous effect (to consume and assimilate) simply overpowered its bindings once it became strong enough:
It remained loyal, becoming a sworn brother to Myrddin, but its hunger could not be sated. Eventually, no prey in the world could slake its ravenous hunger or increase its strength, and its gluttony turned to Myrddin himself. It longed to kill and devour the man, from the hair on his head to the marrow in his bones. It knew the evil of this deed and wept bitterly, but could not resist its nature. It would kill and consume Myrddin, and then it would devour the world itself.
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That does ring a bell. Thanks.
Seeing he’s a researcher am I the only one thinking he’d stay and cause trouble for Siobhan while Lacer is away ? (That might lead to him being stranded in the spirit realm tbh)
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Especially since that spirit is in part made of the person it bound itself to via vow and that vow actually giving the spirit more than it had before. (A name, a assurance of help, power)
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oh yea, she can now just get people physically into the spirit realm (something no other human can do), let them get insane there for a bit and then get them back…
And that can be done while she herself is bussy otherwise… oh my. so many ways to upp the ante with the raven queen stuff now 
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Does anyone else think it interesting that the one place that Lacer doesn’t check is the Undreaming Order headquarters if he’s trying to find Sebastian through his connection to the Raven Queen you would think this would be an obvious place to look.
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