When Kitty met with Makepeace in The Golem's Eye, he told her he'd like to have Gladstone's Staff and Cloak of State (downplaying the power of each, of course) in exchange for "helping" the Resistance. We all know why he wanted the Staff, but what was so important about the cloak?

hm good question.....maybe........no, i got nothing.

Here's my theory and how I arrived at it:
Since Makepeace asked for it and the Staff out of all the treasures in Gladstone's crypt, it might be the most powerful artifact in there (with the exception of the Staff itself, of course). The question is, what did Gladstone use it for? His Cloak of State... he'd probably have worn it on formal occasions, as when addressing Parliament or giving a speech... situations in which he'd want to persuade people of his point of view. I think it was infused with extremely strong Charm and Glamour spells to captivate his audience, turning magicians into fawning boot-lickers and commoners into adoring sheep. Of course, this is all speculation, as there's no canon evidence one way or the other, but it seems to make sense... what do you think?

That's kinda possible.

I think I assumed it was something more defensive. The Charm idea does make sense, but with the staff he could intimidate or kill anyone who disagreed with him. If it had some sort of strong Shield, or functioned like and amulet, he would also be protected.

TheSilverNoble wrote:I think I assumed it was something more defensive. The Charm idea does make sense, but with the staff he could intimidate or kill anyone who disagreed with him. If it had some sort of strong Shield, or functioned like and amulet, he would also be protected.

That's also a plausible explanation, but I think if it was intended for protection in war, it would be a little more practical than fancy. Traveling across continents, through rain, snow and bloody battles... that black and purple velvet might get a little stained after a while.

I don't really have any basis for this, but maybe he also asked for the cloak because he wanted to draw attention from him wanting the staff. If he was to only ask for one item, it would seem more suspicious than if he asked for two.

Just my opinion.

FuzzyLobster wrote:I don't really have any basis for this, but maybe he also asked for the cloak because he wanted to draw attention from him wanting the staff. If he was to only ask for one item, it would seem more suspicious than if he asked for too.

That's a possibility, but the cloak does have power. Fred confirms it.

It's hardly surprising it was enchanted in some way - but that doesn't mean it was especially powerful. The distraction theory still makes sense.

That's true.
What about the other things in the crypt? Were they really as powerful as Hopkins said, or was that just a deception to make sure that the Resistance's greed overrode their caution?

I'm fairly sure the money pouch was a lie, dunno about the rest.

Nemaides wrote:

TheSilverNoble wrote:I think I assumed it was something more defensive. The Charm idea does make sense, but with the staff he could intimidate or kill anyone who disagreed with him. If it had some sort of strong Shield, or functioned like and amulet, he would also be protected.

That's also a plausible explanation, but I think if it was intended for protection in war, it would be a little more practical than fancy. Traveling across continents, through rain, snow and bloody battles... that black and purple velvet might get a little stained after a while.

True, true, but in a world with magic it's possible to give fabrics unnatural qualities. Magicians are, as has been pointed out, vain. It seems very possible that Galdstone would make his cloak more durable than it should be.

Maybe the cloak of state had something to do with summoning Nouda....

TheSilverNoble wrote:I think I assumed it was something more defensive. The Charm idea does make sense, but with the staff he could intimidate or kill anyone who disagreed with him. If it had some sort of strong Shield, or functioned like and amulet, he would also be protected.

I agree with this. It's Gladstone's version of a bulletproof vest for the era.

Dansariki wrote:

TheSilverNoble wrote:I think I assumed it was something more defensive. The Charm idea does make sense, but with the staff he could intimidate or kill anyone who disagreed with him. If it had some sort of strong Shield, or functioned like and amulet, he would also be protected.

I agree with this. It's Gladstone's version of a bulletproof vest for the era.

Though it would look weird if it also protects the front too.

Some djinni shoots a Detonation, and the cloak just bounces it back....

Doubt that.
Just absorbs it, like an amulet should.
All Gladstone would have to do is keep the cloak wrapped to protect his front.

In the Amulet of Samarkand, Bart said that, because there was so much energy being unleashed, the Amulet was absorbing all magical energy around it, including spirits. If Gladstone used the Staff (very powerful magical object), wouldn't a strong amulet absorb his own attacks as well as his attackers'?

Only a certain person, maybe someone near him. It can't defend one city.

Attackers? If you mean spirits, if they get too close, yes. Humans, no.

I think it had a glamour of some sort.....That way he could persuade the government into giving him the power to invade Prague and stuff.... Something nearly impossible for a normal man... :P

It might have had a protective shield but i dont think he really needed it since he had the staff and two afrits (Honorius and Patterknife ) for protection.... :-/

kitty jones wrote:I think it had a glamour of some sort.....That way he could persuade the government into giving him the power to invade Prague and stuff.... Something nearly impossible for a normal man... :P

It might have had a protective shield but i dont think he really needed it since he had the staff and two afrits (Honorius and Patterknife ) for protection.... :-/

I kind of have the same suspicion of a glamour. At first I thought it might make him invisible, but it also might just make him unnoticeable or something.