So, there is some uncertainty in the book when Talarius is scanning the "Palace of Evil" with his mirror.

He sees 4 dots of interest. He sees one green one running around and 3 blue ones. Two of the blue ones are close together and one of the blue ones is light blue, perhaps slightly turquoise.

First, the missing information: is the light one the one on its own, or is it with one of the dark blue ones?


Now onto the fun analysis. Obviously the two standing together are Ramses and Exador. We know that around this time they are conversing. The other arch demon in play is Bess so she must be the other dot. The green one of course is a Level 4 and therefore Tom. But we later see that Rupert registers as green and we know he doesn't leave the palace until later. So where is Tom? Well at this point we don't know Bess is in Astlan, so we should assume one of the blue ones is Tom.

Obviously if Tom is a blue, he is the lone one. That would make him an Archdemon. However, if the light blue one is the lone one, then it may be the mirror isn't exactly calibrated to the arbitrary human classification of demons. That would mean that he is a very very strong 4, something we already knew/suspected. However, if the dark blue was the lone one... that would be interesting. It would mean Tom outranks either Ramses or Exador at this point and is unquestionably an Archdemon.


Final question: is Tom an Archdemon at this point?

The question is why the author felt the need to say two were "especially" close. Tom could have been close and not known it. Remember that at around this time, Exador and Ramses are walking around talking to each other. Tom could have been in a hallway one floor down and Talarius could be viewing them as close on his 2D mirror.

The other option of course is that Tom is so powerful he is ultraviolet and Talarius can't see it on his mirror. I find that unlikely. I don't think he has reached god status yet.

Edited by user Monday, August 25, 2014 3:50:50 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

@smw:

Then at least the two of the blue dots should be moving. There are actually many variables against Tom being the third blue dot. Edwyrd is having dinner with Lenamare. He then was wondering around until he found the storeroom. Then he was exploring the palace with Gastrope. Exador is also seen rushing alone to his hidden room after being intruded by Rupert. Just check the events around those times. The likeliness of Tom and two of the three demons being close to each other in the evening for sometime is just very unlikely.

There is also the possibily that Tom is level three and would just show as a yellow dot. There could also be a possibility of the mirror having a glitch when it view new demons. There is also the possibility that Tom is a level 6, which is purple or indigo. Such color is easy to miss around hundreds of red and oranges because its hue is close to red and oranges and our eyes isn't really sensitive to that color. Talarius could just have missed it especially when his attention is focused on the green and blue dots.

@Tizzy:

What gets your vote?

I always wondered about the first binding of Tom. Lenamare used an Lvl. 4 Binding spell.
But he also used an circle (multiple wizards to Combine their power)

Was the Lvl. 4 binding spell supercharged by the circle?

I assumed Rupert was the green, some combination of Exador, Ramses, and Bess was the maybe two dark blues (IIRC he wasn't really sure how many were in that spot, also he was on a flying horse some distance away), and Tom was the light blue

Edited by user Tuesday, August 26, 2014 6:03:14 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Actually if you take Lenamare at his word he was originally planning to show his students how to bind a bound minor demon when he found Tom. He thought that with his talent he could easily bind an unbound minor demon. He was quite surprised as he had believed most of the demons already bound so new demons were quite rare.

Tom then started to struggle more as they initially reacted thus bringing up his resistance, but Lenamare was ill prepared to bind a demon. The fact that Tom comes from a magic poor world is likely the only reason he was bound as people from a world rich in magic would more strongly resist speaking their true name as Tom was at the time not quite as suspicious as he should have been. Tom could in fact be stronger than a type IV and if so it is quite likely he will grow into that role quite soon. He is already a powerful IV so it is feasible as he has yet to learn.

Not quite sure what happens though. I know demons exist on a spectrum of power, but I lack knowledge as to what occurs when they advance. I would assume that a demon that was originally red that advanced to yellow would appear different than it had. I am also quite sure that a demon bound with a spell of a lower rank than it was would grow faster than a demon in the reverse situation, but for clarification ask Tizzy as my knowledge of Astlanian demons is lacking in some areas.

Is that what happen?

I thought that when they thought that it was a unbound minor demon, they try to bind it, but then it turned out to be something else and they change tactics. The wizards has taken his name and is calling for him to submit. I thought that was part of the binding and when Tom fought them they make a change of the spell. Guess I was wrong.

Looking forward for Jenn's diary entry so I can really make sense of what happen there.

Is that what Lenamare is really trying to do? Would have been interesting.

That was what I thought. They changed the spell, multiple times. That should have a side effect. All those different mana overlaying on each other.

Oh hey guys, per Langland's request over on the discussion thread

http://www.amazon.com/gp...#CustomerDiscussionsNRPB

I am reposting my comment from over there on the power levels etc:

---snip---

I think Rupert was the Bright Green light wandering around the Wizard Council Palace that the Knight Rampant saw, and I base this upon the fact that right after they truth talked the boy yet before they axed him the Knight used the mirror spell and we saw a green glow illuminate the Knight's face.

That means to me the most likely possibility for Tom's colors are the Light Blue with Turquoise streaks. I do admit that the light blue with highlights could have been the girl arch-demon, as she was decidedly less powerful when it came to resisting the demon repulsion spell than the other two male Archies. But....

Also I have a theory as to why Rupert looks so much like Tom, which also kind of links into his power level. Rupert is a born half-demon who of his own admission grew tails and horns etc, but never 'manifested' his full form until 'after' he met his father. No wizard cut his tether and soul bound him with a level four or level three containment spell. Yet he's got the distinctive appearance of a small level four. I maintain that since how a 'demon' looks and his body is the 'half-wizard' pre-conception and half the new demon's preconception that in our little guy's case. He did the lions share of the imagining and once he saw Tom the first good strong non-evil demonic role model he'd encountered he took on a decidedly similar appearance. He also thought Tom was a level four. Is it any co-inky-dink that his first full demonic manifestation is almost an exact replica of his 'father' and is it also a co-inky-dink that he comes in solidly at the same power level as his 'father'.

I would maintain that his 'real' demonic father's power level as well as his own magical training likely effected his power level but if belief is half the battle here then Rupert's similarity to Tom/Dad is a self-fullfilling prophesy.

Now I could be all wet and all 'good' fourth level demons look the same but if its mind over matter.... I mean just look at what he was doing with his consciously controlled morphing of his human body. how much does the unconscious factor come into play.





The Deposed King

We had been discusing about the lights too. To me, Tom was not one of the blue lights.

There many possible explanation for Rupert. Personaly for me, I just want it not explained.

Edited by user Friday, October 3, 2014 5:05:18 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified