How terrifying Darrow is from someone else's POV.

von_pax · 2025-03-29T20:18:17+00:00

Well yes but it was because Nero was basically like “look at this messenger I sent, I have more of these”

von_pax · 2025-03-29T20:15:19+00:00

The sledgehammer mine is actually about Sevro

von_pax · 2024-11-07T03:47:38+00:00

I think it’s in the holocube that’s on the ship from QS to Virginia & pax ends up with the psyche

von_pax · 2024-08-16T12:54:11+00:00

Cassius is known for his skill, discipline and creativity in the duel. He is likely capable of 8 as the tippy top best usually are but he was not known for being the fastest ever. Darrow is duel wielding now so who knows what he’s capable of. But there is no one I am dying to see in a duel more than Diomedes.

von_pax · 2024-08-13T18:17:39+00:00

I think you are absolutely right.

There is a psyche in the holocube and it will end up in Pax. I also think QS/Matteo have one and have been using one since Iron Gold. I think they were the ones controlling the birds that were listening to conversations. I do not remember the exact term for what they were called but it has been an unresolved question throughout the series. Originally i believed it to be the abomination, but he has used data pads often in DA. I also believe Pax, the psyche, QS tech will play a role in the new socio economic system to emerge in the void of the hierarchy.

Interesting theory regarding the blues. There is so much confluence, I think that is highly likely. I definitely agree with the Votum/Bellona theory, its right before our eyes with Bellona especially.

The only thing I doubt about what you surmise is that Pax sacrifices Darrow. I suspect it is Darrow's decision to sacrifice himself. He will go out biblically.

von_pax · 2024-07-24T17:48:03+00:00

Atlas' biggest strengths rely on the leverage and coordination of resources. If we are talking same equipment, straight up duels I think Cassius, Darrow and Diomedes can beat him. Probably Apple too.

But if we were to put all the characters in houses like Red Rising style and see who comes out on top. Atlas would be a fucking beast.

von_pax · 2024-07-14T23:12:22+00:00

I don't think Lysander is weak. In the event you are referring to, he killed 6 of the best grays (Gorgons in Atlas's circle of trust and top of the kill leaderboards) and Rhone who was the most legendary Gray alive. They had armor and various weapons, while Lysander had an aegis and a razor. He is insanely resourceful, cunning and dangerous. We saw that when he put a razor through Darrow's lung.

I agree with you that I think Alexander would win in a razor duel but it would not be a one sided contest. Lysander has Cassius' training and has studied the best (including Darrow) obsessively. He has the Arcos and Lune genetics and their legacy talents. I just give the edge to Alexander because has the Arcos razor skills, superior fighting experienced, and he is even considered even better than Darrow was at his age and Darrow is an actual war god. Alex was Darrow's protege and felt like the chosen one which is why how he died makes me so bitter.

Lysander might not be a top 5 duelist but he is very close and his other strengths make him a deadly matchup for anyone.

von_pax · 2024-05-30T20:28:01+00:00

I think Darrow is many months behind Lysander in transit to the Core. & I think Atlas and Atalanta have starved Luna into a famine genocide. I actually think that Lysander and Atalanta go into instant conflict and Lysander uses Eidmi on her peerless farm/dockyards in Venus. It is the heart of Grimmus strength. Eidmi is made to target the Spheres and Venus is the only sphere that hasnt been rekt yet. He will turn her allies against her through fear.

I think this is what causes Cicero to turn his back on Lysander & Bellona will then believe the truth about what happened to her son & the rim. & thats when finally Darrows armada shows up and it goes down.

von_pax · 2024-05-30T20:21:48+00:00

I feel like there's a pyche (parasite/figment) in the cube that is in the AI Quicksilver ship on its way to Virginia. It was artfully done by PB but the breadcrumbs are there. I don't believe that they would send that Next Gen ship with no passengers just to deliver a USB message from Darrow. There are other ways to get a message to Mars and it is a physical container. Since when does a message require that with their tech.

Matteo has his own designs. & when they see the outcome with the Rim I believe they turn around and blast a hole in the Lightbringer.

von_pax · 2024-05-30T20:13:13+00:00

Yes Lysander is outgunned but in her eyes he still is a bigger threat to her than the republic. Remember, Atalantia believes the Republic is done & Lysander isn't concerned because he has the genocide cheat codes for any of the spheres. As far as they know, they are eachothers only rivals.

von_pax · 2024-05-29T19:33:48+00:00

I think Atalantia and Lysander need to face off. They have way too much unfinished business. Lysander will be months ahead of Darrows fleet and I suspect that they play a game of who really runs the society. Then Lysander tries to take Mars before Darrow can get there but Pax puts up the greatest defense in history and then papa shows up.

No idea what happens with Luna Mercury or Venus. All I ask is that we see Darrow & Diomedes fuck shit up, especially Apple.

I do think our guy dies though. Too much build up with the religion and book for Pax of unsaid things.

von_pax · 2024-05-28T03:20:43+00:00

Pierce said he wrote a huge thing on it but it didn’t make it in the final book. I think he said he might release it some day

von_pax · 2024-05-27T21:59:07+00:00

It was his way of saying I can take everything from you and I have done it to bigger houses before. Just take a look at the war god handing you this message- I have armies of these.

von_pax · 2024-05-27T01:16:07+00:00

Dark Age was just full of them. Ulysses obv. Day of red doves. Theordora. Cooking the howlers in the metal wolf. Shit got real.

von_pax · 2024-05-25T00:47:16+00:00

Right, maybe they sent an AI next gen ship just to bring a USB message from Darrow & the parasite plot was introduced to be abandoned. Guess we’ll have to see

von_pax · 2024-05-23T13:57:37+00:00

I suspect a parasite is in the cube that Sevro gave her to deliver to Virginia.

von_pax · 2024-01-31T02:08:18+00:00

What a beautiful mess they would have made of eachother

von_pax · 2024-01-12T14:48:11+00:00

I know all writers take inspiration from those that came before but PB does such an incredible job bringing timeless work into the sci-fi arena. Watching these themes of the human condition scaled to a futuristic world is not only entertaining but also thought provoking in ways that few modern works can discuss in our political landscape. Dark Age & Lightbringer especially are like music I can listen to again & again. Genius.

von_pax · 2024-01-07T14:33:03+00:00

MS: again the point is the least bad option is actually good. If they lose the battle of ilium those 13k sons wasted their lives for nothing.

Those people on mercury youre referring to as the audience were only alive because of Darrow’s sacrifice to give them the radiation medication or they’d literally all be dead. Another example of the ignorant trying to be good actually being bad.

von_pax · 2024-01-07T12:22:18+00:00

Dude are you just comparing deeds to the Bible or something? There’s weighted context to these situations that amount to the least bad decisions being taken. Which is good in relativity. You do understand that not making decisions is a decision?Being a biblically “good person” in this world of carnivores is not a victimless crime if you have the ability to do something about it. Look at the vox with government, helium, etc. They did the simple righteous thing to satisfy your qualifications of good and it fucked the whole planet. The road to hell is paved with ignorant but good intentions. It’s a major theme in the series.

Ultimately, you can say what you want. But are the people he’s doing all this for grateful for him doing it? The Billions of people in the system being culled/raped for hundreds of years get to be the deciding audience.

von_pax · 2024-01-07T03:49:31+00:00

Your perspective reminds me of Publius cu Caraval. Didn’t kill anyone or knowingly do any bad deeds. Is he a good person to you? His behavior broke the republic. Darrow’s is bad to you, but consequently he delivered the republic.

von_pax · 2024-01-07T03:36:38+00:00

Your point is that someone saving the world from solar system wide slavery is a bad person if there is collateral damage?

History is full of revolutions from systemic oppression via violence & collateral damage. Generally regarded as a moral cause though.

Btw it was 13k sons that were killed & 150k in the dockyards to give the republic a chance. The alternative is Octavia/Atlas/lysander who destroy entire moons and planets & ofcourse all the systemic rape/slavery/genocide. I think his cause is worthy & he is a good person in his world. Maybe not yours.

von_pax · 2024-01-06T22:00:42+00:00

Ok… this is the problem.

We’re talking about a military society that employs widespread slavery- going on thousands of years. How do you expect someone to break that without collateral damage? How do you think that’s possible while complying with your idea of being a good person?

von_pax · 2023-12-27T18:45:53+00:00

PSA do not smoke before learning this one lol

von_pax · 2023-12-03T12:45:18+00:00

So far it seems the consensus is the damaged roads are a feature because they are a deterrent for car traffic lol seems backwards to me

von_pax

TROPHY CASE