Hmmm also, Gladstone's Aura or even Honorius's aura may have rubbed off on the cloak.

I'd say dat Stanley missed out on the Staff because he wasnt able to distigish the difference between the auras.
Also since Honorius was there in the tomb I think dat his aura was also making the other objects blend together making Stanley see a huge pool of light.

Would Honorius have had an aura, trapped as he was in a skeleton? Faquarl never had one when trapped inside a human body.

Random topic revival!
Yes, I agree, Faquarl had no aura. But that was because he was able to control himself. Mind you, the rest of the hybrids were walking disco balls. Especially Nouda.

Hmm come to think of it Faquarl didnt but would he have one being a djinn? I say Honorius had one because he was an afrit

Doesn't have to be an Afrit, :) . Every single magical object/creature/people-who-have-gone-to-the-other-place has got an aura.

aiReY-chan wrote:Doesn't have to be an Afrit, :) . Every single magical object/creature/people-who-have-gone-to-the-other-place has got an aura.

True True

I think he just doesn't want to attract attention to the staff. well, it would be better to say "I'm a collector who want all of the things related to gladstone" than "I'm a magician who wants to take over the parliament with gladstone's staff"

Well, if he was a collector, he would've asked for more than just the cloak, right? But i see what you're getting at.

My theories are that:
1. He wanted the cloak so that when the kids came to give it to him, he could subdue them with a spirit and find out where they kept the Staff and thus getting both
2. Or the Cloak has some sort "cloaking" power, maybe it makes you look cool and heroic and Gladstone-y
3. Makepeace just ran out of money making plays no one really liked and wanted to sell it.

To tell the truth, I think its #2 because it's the Cloak of State, right? it gives you a more imposing appearance, or state of being.

well, what do you mean by more than the cloak ? is it the skeleton? or the gold mask? or what?

Seshat wrote:Well, if he was a collector, he would've asked for more than just the cloak, right? But i see what you're getting at.

My theories are that:
1. He wanted the cloak so that when the kids came to give it to him, he could subdue them with a spirit and find out where they kept the Staff and thus getting both
2. Or the Cloak has some sort "cloaking" power, maybe it makes you look cool and heroic and Gladstone-y
3. Makepeace just ran out of money making plays no one really liked and wanted to sell it.

To tell the truth, I think its #2 because it's the Cloak of State, right? it gives you a more imposing appearance, or state of being.

Well I think the 2nd one sounds more possible. I think it may cast some sort of Glamour aswel as that to make people obey you without question because Gladstone did talk to the commoner government to let him take over, chances are, is that he was wearing the clock at the time.

I think if Makepeace had asked only for the staff, the Resistance might have gotten a little suspicious about why? I'm guessing the cloak of state really is an object of little power, and associating the staff with the cloak, almost as an afterthought, would give the illusion that the staff was also of little power.

I think that's most likely. But another reason: It's Makepeace. Flouncing around in a fancy cloak worn by Gladstone after he takes over the government just seems like something he'd do.

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.

This raises another question, what era or time period did the books take place in?

Modern era, alternate universe. Technology isn't quite advanced in some areas.

Maybe gladstone's staff can only controlled by someone who uses the cloak

actually,I think AoS takes place in2000, because bartimaeus is first summoned in 3010bc (it says so in solomon's ring, I think) and is 5010 years old in the amulet.

Nat isn't wearing the cloak in PG, so you don't have to wear it to use the staff.
I think that the cloak casts some glamour to make you look more powerful or invisible