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i_read_whatSo last time, we had things actually happening! I enjoyed it very much. I'm hoping this chapter will continue the trend. At the very least: no Akar Kessell! Yay!
So we start with Bruenor and the dwarves. We're told that Drizzt's guess was a good one (of course it was), and Bruenor knows where to intercept the reinforcements. The dwarves set up an ambush.
For their parts, Drizzt and Wulfgar have parked themselves above the giant's lair. they slept in shifts throughout the day (in the dwarves' section, there was mention of them marching half the night and into morning. A nice touch, since dwarves are supposed to have more stamina than humans or elves.) Drizzt is a bit concerned that some giants would leave the lair and try to meet up with the reinforcements, spoiling the ambush.
He's right of course. Soon some of the verbeeg are leaving the lair, looking for their overdue patrol. Oops. Wulfgar suggests warning Bruenor, but Drizzt thinks that there isn't enough time for that, and that Bruenor has enough to worry about. But if they kill the giants here, the lair can be none the wiser.
I'm not sure that makes sense. Surely the verbeeg will notice that the group that was sent out to determine why another patrol didn't return also doesn't return. Wulfgar is also apprehensive. Drizzt provokes him, calling him boy, specifically "using the condescending title to stir up the barbarian's pride". Wow, that's a dick move, Drizzt.
Wulfgar's reaction is actually pretty interesting: "Wulfgar shook his head resignedly and sighed. During the weeks of training, he had come to know Drizzt as a controlled and deadly swordsman who weighed every feint and strike with calm precision. But in the last two days, Wulfgar had seen an overly daring - even reckless - side of the drow. Drizzt's unwavering confidence was the only thing that convinced Wulfgar that the elf wasn't suicidal, and the only thing that compelled Wulfgar to follow him against his own better judgement. He wondered if there was any limit to how far he would trust the drow.
He knew then and there that Drizzt would someday lead him into a situation from which there was no escape."
That's...not a healthy dynamic.
Anyway, they follow the verbeeg for a while, until they reach a broken area of stones where the path turns sharply. Drizzt has a plan involving them striking and moving away and then striking again. Then Drizzt does something very silly, considering he's teamed with a young dude who he KNOWS has issues with magic: he summons Guenhwyvar.
Wait a second, you guys have been traveling together for weeks and you haven't introduced Wulfgar to Guen? At all? What kind of dick cat owner are you? At least let her go play sometimes. And why is it a good idea to spring this kind of surprise on someone WHILE YOU ARE SNEAKING UP ON ENEMIES???
Anyway, Wulfgar freaks out, wondering if Drizzt's called a demon. Drizzt defends his companion saying "he is a friend and valuable ally."
What IS it with Salvatore giving male characters female names? Guenhwyvar is the Welsh variation of Guinevere. You know, King Arthur's WIFE?
(ETA: I apparently owe Mr. Salvatore an apology, as apparently, per The Collected Stories: The Legend of Drizzt anthology, he explains that Guen was always supposed to be female, but initially he was told that magical artifacts couldn't have gender, and the copy-editors put in male pronouns where "it" was too awkward. - information taken from this Forgotten Realms wiki page.
Fair enough, Mr. Salvatore. Now please explain why Artemis Entreri has a woman's name?)
Anyway, Wulfgar balks at fighting beside something conjured by sorcerers, and we're told that Icewind Dale barbarians fear neither man nor beast, but "the black arts" are foreign and "their ignorance left them vulnerable"
I don't know, it seems reasonable to me that Wulfgar doesn't want to go into battle with something he doesn't understand. The easiest solution to this might have been to introduce him to Guenhwyvar at any point in their acquaintance. And you know, explain how it works.
Drizzt decides to guilt trip Wulfgar: 'If the verbeeg learn the truth of the missing patrol, Bruenor and his kin will be in danger,' Drizzt said darkly. 'The cat will help us to stop this group. Will you allow your own fears to hinder the rescue of the dwarves?'
I feel like this is a dick move too. Also, I like that "darkly" bit. YOU are the one who sprung this on HIM, Drizzt. You don't get to be annoyed now.
Wulfgar is composing himself and we're told that Drizzt's play to his pride and the threat to the dwarves was pressuring him to temporarily put aside his revulsion for the black arts. Why are you such a good kid, Wulfgar?
Drizzt says that he won't risk the life of the dwarf because of Wulfgar's discomfort. And yeah, okay, that's fair. Though it weirds me out that he calls Bruenor "the dwarf" and not, you know, his name. But I'm still annoyed that this has turned into a criticism of Wulfgar's discomfort, which, again, is easily avoided!
So anyway, Drizzt muses that it will probably take many hours for Wulfgar to truly accept Guen as an ally, if it happened at all, but he just needs his cooperation now. Um, there's a big difference between "many hours" and "never". What about days? Weeks?
I don't know why I'm harping on this.
Okay, we switch back to the dwarves, who spring their ambush. There's a nice bit where Bruenor, who "having no time to trade blows" throws his weapon in the air and headbutts his enemy. I...don't really know how throwing a weapon takes less time then swinging it, but I always like a good headbutt.
Anyway, the Battle of Daledrop is quick and very successful. So we go back to Drizzt and Wulfgar.
Guenhwyvar, who is an it according to the narrative, understands what Drizzt waits and helps ambush the verbeeg. Ultimately, Guen plays distraction/lure, while Wulfgar and Drizzt attack the giants as they chase her. The fight is fun and actiony. There's a point where a giant tries to crush Wulfgar in a seated bear hug while Wulfgar snaps its neck with his bare hands. Wow!
So anyway, they win, and then Drizzt points out what I did at the beginning of this review: that the lair is going to notice these guys missing. Wulfgar suggests waiting for the dwarves to return. Drizzt says, "pretending disappointment" that it's too late and that they may have to strike at them tonight.
Wulfgar doesn't even argue, acknowledging once again that he'd follow Drizzt anywhere and we end the chapter.
I think the cautious young barbarian, gung ho drow mentor dynamic is pretty fun in general, but it's starting to make me a little uneasy how openly manipulative Drizzt is in getting Wulfgar to jump into dangerous situations. It's one thing when we're talking about equal comrades, but Wulfgar's still young, still a student, and really, still in his period of indentured servitude. Drizzt should be showing more responsibility.
So we start with Bruenor and the dwarves. We're told that Drizzt's guess was a good one (of course it was), and Bruenor knows where to intercept the reinforcements. The dwarves set up an ambush.
For their parts, Drizzt and Wulfgar have parked themselves above the giant's lair. they slept in shifts throughout the day (in the dwarves' section, there was mention of them marching half the night and into morning. A nice touch, since dwarves are supposed to have more stamina than humans or elves.) Drizzt is a bit concerned that some giants would leave the lair and try to meet up with the reinforcements, spoiling the ambush.
He's right of course. Soon some of the verbeeg are leaving the lair, looking for their overdue patrol. Oops. Wulfgar suggests warning Bruenor, but Drizzt thinks that there isn't enough time for that, and that Bruenor has enough to worry about. But if they kill the giants here, the lair can be none the wiser.
I'm not sure that makes sense. Surely the verbeeg will notice that the group that was sent out to determine why another patrol didn't return also doesn't return. Wulfgar is also apprehensive. Drizzt provokes him, calling him boy, specifically "using the condescending title to stir up the barbarian's pride". Wow, that's a dick move, Drizzt.
Wulfgar's reaction is actually pretty interesting: "Wulfgar shook his head resignedly and sighed. During the weeks of training, he had come to know Drizzt as a controlled and deadly swordsman who weighed every feint and strike with calm precision. But in the last two days, Wulfgar had seen an overly daring - even reckless - side of the drow. Drizzt's unwavering confidence was the only thing that convinced Wulfgar that the elf wasn't suicidal, and the only thing that compelled Wulfgar to follow him against his own better judgement. He wondered if there was any limit to how far he would trust the drow.
He knew then and there that Drizzt would someday lead him into a situation from which there was no escape."
That's...not a healthy dynamic.
Anyway, they follow the verbeeg for a while, until they reach a broken area of stones where the path turns sharply. Drizzt has a plan involving them striking and moving away and then striking again. Then Drizzt does something very silly, considering he's teamed with a young dude who he KNOWS has issues with magic: he summons Guenhwyvar.
Wait a second, you guys have been traveling together for weeks and you haven't introduced Wulfgar to Guen? At all? What kind of dick cat owner are you? At least let her go play sometimes. And why is it a good idea to spring this kind of surprise on someone WHILE YOU ARE SNEAKING UP ON ENEMIES???
Anyway, Wulfgar freaks out, wondering if Drizzt's called a demon. Drizzt defends his companion saying "he is a friend and valuable ally."
What IS it with Salvatore giving male characters female names? Guenhwyvar is the Welsh variation of Guinevere. You know, King Arthur's WIFE?
(ETA: I apparently owe Mr. Salvatore an apology, as apparently, per The Collected Stories: The Legend of Drizzt anthology, he explains that Guen was always supposed to be female, but initially he was told that magical artifacts couldn't have gender, and the copy-editors put in male pronouns where "it" was too awkward. - information taken from this Forgotten Realms wiki page.
Fair enough, Mr. Salvatore. Now please explain why Artemis Entreri has a woman's name?)
Anyway, Wulfgar balks at fighting beside something conjured by sorcerers, and we're told that Icewind Dale barbarians fear neither man nor beast, but "the black arts" are foreign and "their ignorance left them vulnerable"
I don't know, it seems reasonable to me that Wulfgar doesn't want to go into battle with something he doesn't understand. The easiest solution to this might have been to introduce him to Guenhwyvar at any point in their acquaintance. And you know, explain how it works.
Drizzt decides to guilt trip Wulfgar: 'If the verbeeg learn the truth of the missing patrol, Bruenor and his kin will be in danger,' Drizzt said darkly. 'The cat will help us to stop this group. Will you allow your own fears to hinder the rescue of the dwarves?'
I feel like this is a dick move too. Also, I like that "darkly" bit. YOU are the one who sprung this on HIM, Drizzt. You don't get to be annoyed now.
Wulfgar is composing himself and we're told that Drizzt's play to his pride and the threat to the dwarves was pressuring him to temporarily put aside his revulsion for the black arts. Why are you such a good kid, Wulfgar?
Drizzt says that he won't risk the life of the dwarf because of Wulfgar's discomfort. And yeah, okay, that's fair. Though it weirds me out that he calls Bruenor "the dwarf" and not, you know, his name. But I'm still annoyed that this has turned into a criticism of Wulfgar's discomfort, which, again, is easily avoided!
So anyway, Drizzt muses that it will probably take many hours for Wulfgar to truly accept Guen as an ally, if it happened at all, but he just needs his cooperation now. Um, there's a big difference between "many hours" and "never". What about days? Weeks?
I don't know why I'm harping on this.
Okay, we switch back to the dwarves, who spring their ambush. There's a nice bit where Bruenor, who "having no time to trade blows" throws his weapon in the air and headbutts his enemy. I...don't really know how throwing a weapon takes less time then swinging it, but I always like a good headbutt.
Anyway, the Battle of Daledrop is quick and very successful. So we go back to Drizzt and Wulfgar.
Guenhwyvar, who is an it according to the narrative, understands what Drizzt waits and helps ambush the verbeeg. Ultimately, Guen plays distraction/lure, while Wulfgar and Drizzt attack the giants as they chase her. The fight is fun and actiony. There's a point where a giant tries to crush Wulfgar in a seated bear hug while Wulfgar snaps its neck with his bare hands. Wow!
So anyway, they win, and then Drizzt points out what I did at the beginning of this review: that the lair is going to notice these guys missing. Wulfgar suggests waiting for the dwarves to return. Drizzt says, "pretending disappointment" that it's too late and that they may have to strike at them tonight.
Wulfgar doesn't even argue, acknowledging once again that he'd follow Drizzt anywhere and we end the chapter.
I think the cautious young barbarian, gung ho drow mentor dynamic is pretty fun in general, but it's starting to make me a little uneasy how openly manipulative Drizzt is in getting Wulfgar to jump into dangerous situations. It's one thing when we're talking about equal comrades, but Wulfgar's still young, still a student, and really, still in his period of indentured servitude. Drizzt should be showing more responsibility.