Book 9 cover!

HELL YEAH, KILL THEM!!!

Quintuscus

Why would he kill Lun’kat? She is a sweetheart! She gave Elaine Auri!

Scott, just Scott

Night is at 4094 and Elaine coming back pushes him over the edge. His grand feat is killing Lun’kat.

Mel87

It’s made from that magical stuff so it could be doing whatever. Also don’t halberds have an axe face as well with the separate spear head defining them from pole axes?

Mr Bork

just happened to look at it again while checking in, and realized it looks very Dracula-ish (to me), stylistically.

fbt

I really think the two of them should have a frankly absurd ability to punch up when working together. Iona is built all about up-close fighting while protecting someone, and Elaine provides both assistance in survival and someone to be protected. And Elaine is all about healing herself and others and providing ranged support, while Iona is someone to be healed and supported. Not to say that they're invincible together or anything but the way their specialties meld together really should amplify their general efficacy.

Mystearical

I can see that, the "butt" of the glaive seems to be sticking out above her head, while the pole goes under the cape. I could also be another weapon, like a one handed axe, but it would be strange since she can reshape her weapon...

Guilherme Paschoaletto

I can see the rangers being a mix of mortals and vampires as the mortals level faster and then can become immortal. Also if they are well trained there may not be a fight. Given a full explanation by Elaine they may well decide that their intelligence was incomplete and go for polite escort back to the empire for interview instead of violence

Andrew Moreton

hmm. That'll learn me to take a quick glance while working. On an unrelated note, Maybe Selkie is a WoT fan and it's Mat Cauthon's Ashandarei.

matt

Pretty much any pole-arm handle would have an issue here, besides "1 bladed sword at the end of a stick" is almost always Glaive as Cirvante pointed out. Halberds are usually large axe blades with a spear at the top and a pick on the back, easily confused with Billhooks which do the same things but are modified farm tools that cost a fraction as much with no detriment other than being something a peasant can afford

Nobody

I don't know, I kinda like the idea of a "humbling smackdown" followed by an 11th hour rescue by Night at the public trial. As powerful as the 2 of them are I don't thing either of them could take a combat trained immortal yet, let alone an entire team.

Nobody

Not a halberd, it's a glaive.

Cirvante

It's more of a halberd.

matt

Honestly I don't see the need for breaking Elaine out of prison. I think Jaclyn would probably vouch for Elaine if she ever got put on trial since one; I doubt she would be holding a grudge after all this time so she has no personal reason to try and screw Elaine. She advised for trial and execution based on Vitus' report, not personal feelings. Two; Night would definitely get upset if Jaclyn didn't. Three; Just the propaganda value of recognising The Elaine, author of the medical manuscripts, as a Sentinel would be immense. And four; Elaine has been on a mission for 20,000 years. That is not just great propaganda on its own but it is probably going to be an excellent level boost for both Elaine and whoever she makes the report to. No way a vampire would want to pass up such easy experience. The Sentinels would probably want to cancel the trial and hold an emergency debriefing/levelling session as soon as they realise who she is.

JauPim

The Problem is, that the order to bag Elaine never got very high up the command structure. Without that Night might never even get notified of something so 'insignificant'.

Mercury313

The spear and the cape seem to be interacting weirdly around Iona's head. Does the spear go through the cape somehow? Why would the spear be in-between the cape and her back?

Elaine steals the moon illusions. Lun Kat: "Ey yo wtf, that's illegal"

NoReTr3aT

The battle theme seems quite obvious. Although, I suspect that it will be more about the Valkyrie order, with their castle, and the moon cult. Maybe Iona and Elaine are supposed to somehow subvert the moon cult, so that the goddesses can break Lun'kat's illusion. Still doubt that there will be a big issue with the ranger team. I suspect that it will be some sort of stand-off, maybe an arena battle (hopefully with Artemis), but in the end Flora and Marcelle step in.

Florian

Awesome art!

Caerold

Not even that unlikely. But Id assume that Night would actually be the one who breaks her out or rather lets her out. No way in hell Night doesnt still care a lot for elaine, I mean she is probably one of the only few people still alive from that time. Id assume the problem will be a misunderstanding between the sentinels and elaine and not between the vampires and elaine. Since the Sentinels definitely have more than enough strong people to body elaine. Then we have a Night, Lunkat and Iona going apeshit messing up the sentinels rescue

Chrisbirdie

Elaine learns that hoarding knowledge includes stealing illusions.

luda305

Naïve Elaine thinks that if she goes quietly with the Exterreri Rangers that she will be able to meet Night. Only she ends up in prison awaiting execution. The picture is of Iona conducting a prison break. As for the moons, Lun'kat is also on her way to the prison to rescue her pet formerly-human, and she is properly angry so can't be arsed maintaining the illusions. But Iona got there first.

Cormac

It will be the Night Hunt with all the vampire attacks. The Oathbound Paladin with the support of her Moon Goddesses will defend those who are in need (i.e. Elaine). The Stygian Deceiver will probably show herself again and in battle battle be slapped out of the sky AGAIN stopping the skill on the moon again (or she may drop it in order to actually get serious). Maybe sprinkle a bit of Fae shenanigans and the fact that Elaine is now only elvenoid and not human.

joss sim

World travel

merr49

Moons… WITHOUT ILLUSIONS??!!

NethanielShade